Welcome to Gaia! ::

Susan was immediately interested in a pair of horns that shifted past the viewfinder of her cheap-o throwaway cam as she was taking pics of the crowd milling through the streets. The twenty one year old woman moved towards the woman with the dark mocha skin and beautiful, bouncing curls of hair. She tapped the stranger's shoulder, leaning in slightly with her camera hugged close to her ample bosom.

She assumed the horns were some sort of self-made prop, and she loved them. Would probably google up a storm later that night, trying to find a pair she could afford.

"Hi! You're so beautiful, do you mind if I take a picture of you? I'm an artist. I do portraits. I love to draw people with interesting looks. I can write down your number, if you'd want to see it afterwards?"

She had done this countless times in New York. Occasionally, she'd be turned down. More often than not, her subjects would be more than happy to oblige. She never took another person's photo without consent, unless it was a candid crowd. She had built quite a collection of her blue penned portraits, and they were her passion. She was, perhaps, a bit too forward... but she blamed it on the couple beers she had guzzled down earlier this afternoon, before coming to First Friday's celebration.

"I'm here to support my friend and boyfriend," he replied with a slight shrug, pale eyes turning over the movement of people before returning to Shun. "I think people are looking to forget what happened a few weeks ago. Not all of us are so unlucky." Lucas subconsciously adjusted the shirt around his chest, plucking the fabric.

"Speaking of, how are you healing up?" He arched a brow, not having forgotten the man's strain the last time they'd met.

His lip curled, brows set in an even line, almost like he was uncertain he wanted to divulge. "Maeve - she was with our group, the pin-up red-head? - she owns a wine and cheese shop, so, she's here selling that and...apparently running a kissing booth." He'd let Shun put together the rest.

The question turned to him earned a faint smile. "Collecting scars the way some people collect tattoos." Seemed an apt description, given where they were. "Picking fights I can't win over disputes most humans will never have to deal with." Lucas laughed, but it was a low sound, abrupt and humorless, lightly tugging up the sleeve on his good arm to show the not-fully healed gash. It was clean, not a tear, and was healing well, but clearly was not caused by a were attack. "But I'm alive, so that's...something."

Despite himself, Lucas laughed at the expression Shun wore, amused that the man of so few words could still say a hell of a lot with his dour look. "I'd offer to introduce you..." he ventured, only half teasing.

Tucking the edge of the sleeve back around the lowest part of the cut, he retained his smile and nodded. "Both. A run-in with myself. I'm a wolf in the other place, and apparently I get to keep some of their better attributes. Like being a territorial s**t at inopportune times." It was almost funny, if it wasn't the truth. At least he had the wound on his chest covered today.

"Everything okay on your end? I mean -- with clean up, the others that were hurt?" A pause. "They should be human again, right?" Lucas folded his arms over his stomach, glancing to the crowd. He wasn't needling for information, he was just hoping no news would be good news, for a change.

"Perhaps some other time."

When they weren't running a kissing booth.

Shun lightly folded his arms over his chest, listening to Lucas. Well that sounded... less than ideal. Just having to deal with the whole shapeshifting thing once a month seemed bad enough without animalistic instincts getting mixed into things. He certainly did not envy the man.

"Are you always a wolf when you cross over?" he asked, legitimately curious. Even after talking with Jeremiah, he didn't know a whole lot about Other Ashdown, especially without ever having set foot in it himself. At the next set of questions though, he let out a light grunt.

"Clean up... went alright I suppose. I am not sure if you heard the story that had been put out. As for the remaining ones... maybe," he stated before dropping his voice lowly, "Last I know, no one has spotted any of them since."

A grin formed, toothy and entertained. "Fair enough. Not sure how I'd feel if you had to kiss my boyfriend on first meeting." Yeah, he was teasing, but he was warming up to Shun and teasing was just part of the package.

He shrugged a little again, dimpling one side of his mouth with a soft 'tsk' sound. "I don't know, to be honest. I've only been there twice - first time was like setting my blood on fire and the second was just to change. Haven't been back since." Not that anyone could really blame him. He supposed he'd have to check in with Lady or Sunny, see what the rules were - it wasn't like he really wanted to go before the full moon, anyway.

Lucas bowed his head a little as he listened, his smile diminishing, jaw clenching. They'd see one of them sooner than later. Not that it was his place to say. "I hope the rest are safe," he murmured, shaking his head to himself. He took the blame of that square on his shoulders. "When you have time - maybe not here, maybe we could talk a little more? I'm still gathering information, but..." A helpless little shrug escaped him, eyes seeking.

Lucas inclined his head slightly. "Sure thing, Sarge. My phone is on if anything changes." Casting his pale eyes over the throngs of chattering people again, he exhaled slowly and fixed a smile in place. "I wont keep you, I'm sure you need to keep an eye out for threats - and it wont be me this time, at least."

Taking a few steps away from Shun, he turned around to face the man, walking backwards. "But if you change your mind, Thorne is an excellent kisser." He flashed him another grin, offering a two-fingered salute in farewell.