Colin's posts

Jaden sighed deeply again.

"Yeah." he said. "Admittedly, I don't know him nearly as well as you do... or did... or whatever... but I DO know he wasn't stupid." he continued. "He was sly, he was sneaky, and that was scary stuff. He knew what to say as well to get to people. I guess it's why this threat can't just be dismissed, or 100% taken seriously as fact." he went on. "...which makes it worse." he muttered.

"I'll tell my Mom this." he then told her. "With luck, she'll have some ears to the ground and such, and maybe we'll pick up on any possible schemes that may be coming to fruition." he reasoned.

"It just sucks." he then said. "One would have hoped that, after your brother had been removed from the picture, things could finally calm down for you. But no. He HAD to say pretty much the ONE thing that prevents that." he lamented.

"Sadly, there's no way to find out, either. Souls have secrets as well, we can't force it out of him through the afterlife. Only one that COULD do that is Liz, and... pretty sure she gives zero fucks about what WE worry about and such..." he mumbled further.

"So looks like we're stuck weathering this out together." he finished with a light chuckle.

Jaden was silent for a moment, before reaching forward and placing a hand atop one of hers.

"Desiree." he said. "Whatever that means... whatever he has planned... you don't have to deal with it alone." he told her. "When I fell in love with you... when I said I would spend the rest of my life with you... I knew what that meant. I knew that your family was the way it was. And I still hold true to those words." he said further. "I don't know what he could have planned, and to worry about it would be a recipe to go insane... but just know that I don't care about what he has planned, as far as my own safety goes." he went on.

"So please don't think you need to stay away, or strike out on your own, or distance yourself from me." he implored. "For all we know, that is part of his plan." he told her. "Or maybe he said that JUST to make you worry about something that won't even be coming." he then said further. "We don't know, and there's no real way we CAN know." he stated.

"But... don't feel you need to shoulder this alone." he restated.

"I'm here for you. So is Leo. So is Mom. Your dad is as well. Vincent, and everyone." he smiled softly.

Leo looked ready to argue with Desiree on her 'full grand' conclusion, but she just continued to speak, and by the time she allowed him to get a word in, the conversation had already moved onto something else completely, and he knew it would be awkward to try and backpedal to what she said she was paying back. So he just sighed, groaned, shook his head, and let out a heavy breath.

"Firstly, a dinner date sounds like a wonderful idea." he told her with a smile.

"Secondly, just... let me know if you have any issues of problems or troubles or whatever." he said.

"I just stopped by to drop these off, and to see you again." he told her. "You're looking well, and I hope things get moving back to their usual soon." he told her further.

"We can only try." Jaden responded.

"Indeed." Leo agreed. He then stepped closer, and he and Desiree hugged each other once more, before he took a few steps back and disappeared from where he was, leaving Jaden and Desiree alone once more.

"Well, you're back to normal, tech-wise, at least." Jaden commented.

"Should." Leo responded. "I put those together with the stand in mind, anyway." he said further. "Only thing I can say is to try it, and if it doesn't work, I'll need to modify the stand." he continued. "The headphones are essentially the same, as I know you're familiar with them, and admittedly, there's not a lot I can think of to drastically change with them." he then admitted. "Not to brag, but they're some of my finest work." he added at the end with a sheepish chuckle, as he scratched the back of his head.

"And the phone?" Jaden asked.

"Oh! Right." Leo said, snapping his fingers. "Yeah, that's just a straight-up new phone that I modded a bit." he told the, digging into his bag again. He then pulled out a charging cord, a wall adaptor, and a wireless charging pad for said phone. He set them on the table that was in the middle of the room, and gently nudged them over towards Desiree. "You'll need these." he laughed.

"Is she allowed to pay you back for the phone, at least?" Jaden inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"..." Leo was then silent after looking to respond immediately, and then sighed heavily. "All right, all right." he relented. "Desiree, if you feel you MUST pay me back, then I won't refuse being paid back for the phone and modifications I did to it, as well as the charging pad." he told her.

"And how much would that be?" Jaden asked him.

Leo was silent for a moment, before thinking about it, doing the math somewhat, and converting between the currency he was used to, and that used here. "Phone's worth about 600 dollars..." he then mumbled, having managed to do the conversion. "Well, older by one iteration now, so knock it down to 550..." he corrected himself. "Modifications total about 75... charging pad costs 50 bucks..." he went on, nodding slightly. "So the total is about $675." he concluded.

Leo returned the hug and held the embrace for as long as she did, only letting go when he felt SHE was letting go. He watched her go and sit beside Jaden, before shaking his head slightly.

"I keep saying it's not necessary." he told her.

"...but I get the feeling the argument is an 'unstoppable force meeting an immoveable object' situation right now." he then lamented, before opening his messenger bag and pulling out her new headphones.

They looked pretty much just like her old ones, but a bit sleeker, less bulky, and the various markings and buttons and such were more pronounced. Overall, what she was used to, but a little better. The phone was the latest model of the one she'd had previously... but not. It was actually a newer model than her previous, but was still an iteration behind. That being said, he had modded it to be just as good as the top-of-the-line, if not better.

"And yeah, your old ones were... toast." he confirmed, handing both pieces of tech to her. "Smashed to bits, soaked in water, just... geez." he muttered.

"That being said, wasn't as much work as one would think to have made a new pair." he then said further. "Had the blueprints, just made small alterations." he shrugged.

Jaden just crossed his arms over his chest, and smirked at her.

"...I see you still have your sense of humour." he commented when she looked at him again. "Good." he said. "I've missed it." he told her with a warmer smile now. "I really did." he continued. "...was kinda lonely and worrying without you here..." he then admitted, but then shook his head.

"Anyway, closing the door." he finished, before doing so.

It didn't take Desiree long at all to be dressed and presentable, and when she opened the door to the bedroom, she saw both Jaden and Leo, sitting in the living room area, and Jaden looked over towards her. Leo looked over as well, and waved.

Sorry. he signed. I didn't mean to come at such an awkward time. he told her further.

But I just finished your headphones and actual phone, and I figured you'd be wanting them as soon as possible. he reasoned.

Jaden just shrugged.

"I told him there's no reason to apologise, but you knew he would anyway." he outright said, as she could read his lips.

Jaden paused for a moment, before smacking his forehead.

"Damn it." he said. "Why didn't I think to tell Leo that Desiree didn't have any clothes on!?" he asked himself rhetorically. The answer was probably because he had been so distracted by what Desiree had brought up, and his mind was most likely fixated on it... but still, Desiree had towels on, and nothing else. That was plain as day, and she did NOT need Leo seeing her like that. And Leo didn't need to see HER like that, either, as it would probably fluster him more than a little.

He made his way to the bedroom as well, and stood at the entrance of it, waiting until Desiree saw him to sign to her.

We need to talk. I can tell there's more to this than you're letting on. he signed. However, we'll wait until Leo comes and goes, obviously. It'll be a little easier if you can actually hear me, anyway. he then reasoned.

For now, I'll shut the door and tell him that you're getting yourself more presentable. he continued, but then paused for a moment, raising a finger. He then stepped away from her viewpoint, and returned with the hairdryer from the bathroom, tossing it onto the bed.

Thing works miracles, and dries super speedily, but you knew that. he signed. If you're going to try on new headphones, your hair should be dry. he reasoned.

Or want me to tell him to wait for an hour or so? he asked. Odds are he hasn't left let. he added.

Jaden just pinched the bridge of his nose, and looked REALLY unimpressed now. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, shook his head, and looked over towards her, the rather unimpressed expression back on his face.

Don't. he signed. My reputation is one thing. It's a small thing. Hell, if anything, this might be a boon, considering that my show is supposedly steeped in the dark arts- he signed further, before looking towards the phone.

One second. he signed to her, getting up and making his way over.

He reached the phone and picked it up, speaking to whomever was on the other side, and as he did, Desiree still had the uncomfortable thoughts swirling in her mind. It was true what he said, his was considered a 'dark sorcerer' by those that didn't like his content and were very religious... almost zealously so. He used that to his advantage, and turned that bad press into good promotion. And she wouldn't lie, the fact that he would be involved with someone that might have her 'new reputation' might be good for him... but she could also tell he was mostly trying to make her feel better. He hadn't liked where she had been going with that train of thought, and was attempting to stop it right there.

He finished on the phone, and then made his way closer towards her.

Leo will be here in a few minutes. he signed to her. Seems he's been working almost non-stop to make you a new pair of headphones, and has a phone paired to them as well. he informed her further.

So he'll be here shortly to give them to you and help you calibrate and adjust them. he finished.

Jaden just sighed heavily when she said that. It was almost hard to believe that Deryck was gone. Her mother had been gone for a while as well, so her brother's death truly marked the fact that she was free. Free from them trying to take her life. Tying to kill her. Trying to make her life miserable. For the first time in a very long while... Desiree could well and truly sleep soundly, without fear of death.

He looked at her again, before shaking his head slightly.

Been worried sick about you. he signed to her further. Nobody was really telling me anything, said that they couldn't. That they were legally prevented from. he continued to sign.

Was very frustrating. he then admitted.

But is it over now? he asked her. Will nobody be coming for you and asking questions and such? he asked further. Because I don't want the authorities hounding you about this. he reasoned.

You're free now. Let's not have this be tainted or ruined. he then finished.

The fact that she had been able to even start to maker her way to the bathroom was a sign that Jaden was not home. If he HAD been home, he probably would have been in an area where he could have seen her appear, and would have essentially been up in her face immediately. But that had not occurred, meaning that he was out somewhere else. And if she were to wager a guess, he was with someone trying to keep him calm. Or perhaps he was trying to keep THEM calm. Odds were good that he was with Kalin and/or Rene... the latter having probably told Jaden and Kalin the bare minimum as to what was happening.

At the very least, this allowed her to go and take her shower... which was a minor miracle, as far as she was concerned. She made her way to the bathroom and took her shower, the hot water beating down on her feeling like nothing less than a liquid massage. The shampoo and body wash seemed to rinse away not only the physical dirt and grime she felt on her, but almost seemed to wash away the physical 'remnants' she felt clinging to her body, from the attack Deryck had made on her. Her mind still raced about it, though, and she knew that it would take a while for her to come to terms with this, but at least her body was feeling better.

She spent about 35 minutes in that shower, and when she emerged from the room, a towel wrapped around her hair, and a larger towel wrapped around her body, she saw that she wasn't alone any longer.

Her eyes adjusted from the steam that had filled the room and poured out when she opened the door, and she saw Jaden was sitting in one of the chairs, looking directly at her, and looking very much worried, and unimpressed.

However, she also saw massive relief in his expression as well. It was clear that he was just happy that she was back home, seemed to be all right, but he very much wanted information right now.

Zeke gently put his hand to Desiree's cheek, and just continued to look at her in silence for a moment, nary breathing... before he then closed his eyes slowly, and huffed a small sigh.

"No rush." he said. "Just try and take care of yourself." he told her. He then looked around some more, mostly skyward, and then looked at her one last time.

"See you later..." he finished, giving her a hug. She returned it and they held it for a few seconds, before letting go, allowing him to take a few steps back. As they waved to each other, he was engulfed in light once more, and disappeared as there was a lightning flash.

Now she was alone in the rain, the thunder, and the lightning. She was alone in an alley, in Winnipeg, no mana, no headphones, and no phone. She knew that people knew where she was, though. Zeke knew exactly where she was, Rene knew vaguely where she was, and she knew that Leo knew she was in Winnipeg. As a bonus, she knew Leo would be immediately working on a new pair of headphones for her, as well as getting her a new phone set up with them, but that did her little good NOW.

Now, she needed to do what she needed to do. The longer she delayed, the worse it would be for her. So, despite the rain that seemingly refused to let up, she needed to set out and trek on.

Zeke continued to look at her with his deep blue eyes, and she could see that he had matured since their connection that had once been deeper had been forcibly weakened. He still cared for her immensely, and she couldn't help but feel just that little bit safer around him, no matter the circumstances. He was silent for another moment, and then nodded slowly.

"Very well." he said, as the lightning flashed above them.

"...one second." he told her, before he vanished from where he was, and returned to that very same place not 5 seconds later... but with a sturdy and wide umbrella in his hands. He opened it and handed it to her, the radius more than enough to shield her from the downpour.

"At the very least, you don't need to get any more soaked." he reasoned.

"Now go. And do what you feel you need to do." he told her.

"I shall see you later, Desiree." he finished, moving some of her wet hair away from her good eye.

Rene and Zeke were silent for a moment, before Rene stepped in front of her.

"Five minutes." he said. "Please. Just let me finish applying the salve, and wait five minutes. That's all I ask." he told her. "That's the bare minimum so you'll not feel ready to collapse every step you take." he added.

Desiree was definitely reluctant, but she knew she wasn't winning here. Especially when she couldn't use her mana right now. So she relented, and sat down to wait the 5 minutes. And she kept time as well. When the wall clock showed that 5 minutes had passed, she looked to the two males as she stood up.

"...I'll be taking her back." Zeke commented.

"You do that." Rene responded.

"Desiree... good luck." was all he said to the young woman, before they said their farewells, and he departed from her suite apartment.

Zeke then approached her and held her close in his arms, before the two were surrounded by a warm light, taking them away from the comfort and safety of her place, and putting them back in the torrential thunderstorm of Winnipeg.

"I'm sorry." Zeke said to her, looking right into her eyes.

"What the hell...?" Rene muttered. She was looking away from them now, so she wouldn't be able to hear them or read their lips, but the doctor still wanted to 'vent' a little. "Desiree, why on this Earth would you offer such a thing to such a scumbag?" he asked. "Why go so far for someone who's done nothing but-" he started to ask, before Zeke placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Dr. Calder..." he said quietly, causing Rene to snap his gaze directly to the nephilim.

"WHA-" he started to ask irately... before he saw that Zeke had a look of... almost sorrow to him. His eyes said they knew something that the lantha did not. Something that was weighing heavily on him right now.

"It's not my place to say anything right now." Zeke said. "Desiree... has her reasons. And I'm pretty sure I'm the only one that knows them. And it's only because of what I am, and who I used to be." he said further. "So please... don't take it personally, please try and quell your understandable frustration, and... just know that Desiree is probably going through a lot right now." he went on.

"...so much so, that I don't know how she'll be for the next while." he then added softly.

"..." Rene was silent after that for a moment, looking at him blankly while he was so... before he looked back to Desiree and blinked a few times.

"I see." he said. "I might not know everything about Desiree, and I might not know a lot about you... but I can tell when I shouldn't insert myself in someone's business, especially not with the attitude that was threatening to explode." he reasoned.

"Thank you." was all Zeke responded with, as Rene continued to work on Desiree, with the woman actively starting to feel better with each passing minute... physically anyway. Which was thanks to a special salve that Rene had. It was a Lanthan recipe, and it was borderline a miracle cure for injuries. It sped up healing time drastically, acted as a wonderful painkiller, but if used too frequently, the patient would develop a nasty chemical addiction to it. The last time he'd used it on Desiree was over 5 years ago, so she'd be fine with this application.