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Archeology had more papers than projects, which was a blessing in some ways. They were easier to cart about, less numerous even for teaching undergraduates, and tended to be more interesting in effort of actual research. They took more effort to grade as well, which was best done as a time kill during the office hours that no one came to. Quenton navigated through the student swarms, his own class let out on exact time, much easier than most.

There is a body in the chair? He didn't hesitate to entering his own office despite the presence, setting a heavy ream of tests down and considering the features as they were revealed on his way to the desk. It was a face he knew, vaguely at first and then growing in recognition. More ink than last time. But it must be the same man.

"Blackwell, wasn't it? " At least touched by wells of black round the well to the soul. One eye. Planning to black that? Unusual after this amount of time to come calling. It wasn't a warm meeting ours, nor cold. Not a thing to engender an expectation of a follow up visit out of care of tenderness, when it seemed mostly an afterthought at the time. Or....whatever it was. It gets lost in the light and desperation to get to the office to pass out.

"What brings you here?"

"Heard from who?" Quenton pulled his own seat to take. He didn't break eye contact in sitting down. That has been missing since then. Not displaced but deliberately taken? Yes, I think so. None of the rest was.

"To both steal and then expect answers later on presenting of the object speaks of a certain boldness. Or threat. Especially given the subject matter. You could as easily pursue your answers in review of police reports, and going to any other person in them to ask after the monsters that made them pass out or tried to tear them limb from limb. Mental health professionals think the whole thing is a lot of malarkey. They'd probably 302 and then file a 303 Commitment Petition on you. I could be, with you witnessing documentations with your John Hancock." A bid from Stroud? Ida? Stara? Who would really give enough cares to want to get me locked in a ward for a few months. Uncertain, but not out of reckoning. Is it a factor of knowing my name and where to find me? That would be thin reason, but enough if he's as new to the city as claimed before.

"Still. Why come to me, Blackwell. The card is a piece of plastic worth little more than the effort and energy spent calling to the library to report it stolen and issuing a new one. It is a weak payment, trade, or blackmail, depending on the spirit you're intending to present this as. I do have some answers from experiences of my own. There's many in this city who've been caught up in the attacks or gone wholly missing. I'm more interested in the why's than the card."

The hand jewelry felt heavy, bones traced and laid over his own. He didn't glance to it though, not needing to compared to the tactile sensation, nor did he want to take his gaze from the man across the desk. Unexpected the stunt bears new fruit. I wonder if it is really just that you were attacked that you follow that lead. This less an obvious situational read than Orah's visceral reaction to the costume itself. Do you wear other clothes sometimes? Or do you hope to? And what of 'borrowed' bodies? That is a strange statement. Philosophical or religious?

So. How far does the information go. Alois' presence in my life and in Alex's must be known to the rest of them, possibly putting either of us at risk if they look for him. They won't find him now. And what is safe for any civilian to know?

"I had a roommate for a month, a friend for longer. We worked together on a few projects. Then one day he vanished. Came back....unmanned literally and changed. He was involved in the shadows that stalk the city, the lore of which may be a danger to have any association to other than brute chance. They carry themselves as a secret, vigilante society. "

" My undergraduate disciplines were Three Dimensional art, sculpture mostly, but molding and casting for theatrical makeup and prosthesis is not so large a step to the side. " He lifted the card from its landing and set it succinctly into a pen holder on the desk against the wall. "Useful information about the creatures and their ....group in general...avoid them if you can. They're faster, stronger, more durable than the rest of us. They eat energy and 'souls', being the best interpretation on vocabulary, that they pull out of your chest. If they corner you, don't focus on killing but disabling shots- eyes, throat, genitals, instep. Those locations are sensitive and no amount of whatever makes them generally resilient protects those regions from being sensitive. "

"From my roommate's example, I believe they were all once regular homo sapiens." Quenton quirked a brow, indicating rather than speaking the implicit question, Does that answer your need?

"Not trifle, but strategy and wagers of information, experience, and setting. As you do now yourself, it had its merits as both flag and fishing expedition to find those who had experience with the other side of the city's life, willing or otherwise. The organization itself, their worthies know of me already if they desire to pay attention." To their own general's orders to subordinate lieutenants once upon a time. Grey pawns in the middle must have some worth to be of more notice, though. Time has shown that Quenton Marinus is not that, at least, so far. But it will be on more prepared ground if it ever comes to that now.

Inquiry about the facial scar was almost entertaining, given the circumstance. It was highly personal, any scar was, but it was related. It was usually gauche to ask about that sort of thing without knowing someone well. The attention to the jewelry was one that spoke of sharpness to small matters that could make a large difference in weighing people and situations. It was an awareness he'd not often met outside of his own family. So. What has cause you to be sharp, Blackwell...that is a thing of interest. That is a curiosity that lends itself to something vital behind those thoughts. Or thoughts even at all- able to prioritize and make hierarchies. Sacrifices. Goals.

"It does not come off."
"But you may look at it." Quenton held out the calloused hand to inspection. "The scar on my face is related to the beasts of the war. I've spent long time in hospital, almost dead, after various attacks. Either from the monsters or on account of my roommate and getting caught in crossfire and used against him. "

Hospital records, at least, are confidential things strongly kept even if that I was there is not. That much is discoverable to searchers. Howsimilar this game to talking with Delilah. How to keep information general, truthful so far as it goes, but civilian. Unknowable if that other General ever spoke to any about the blows between he and Alois. Alois would not have, protective...how desperate the last weeks of comfort became, with hours spent in shafts of moonlight while oiling his hair and wings. Removing the tar. Hand laced in hand. "Why the interest in bones and scars?"

"I made this piece, fastenings and preparations to prevent decay. Lapidary, taxidermy and creation of écorchés has been in my study and hobby. " Though not altogether in the first. Shrewd to tell real bones.

"Familiarity with real bones from fake is unusual." He left the observation of closeness alone. It was true, and did not need elaborated on to a stranger for entertainment value alone. 'Where I'm from' like it is a different country? A different culture alien to this one? There are differences still in regions, not so much state to state anymore, but not so vast as to be whole worlds apart between East and West, North and South. 'In my culture'....certainly not Mennonite, Amish or Quaker. Native American Tribal? Tribe lands are politically independent entities, and the nations federally recognized by the United States government. Or are you from a cult? How many separate cultures than the general occident are there native to United States Soil. Melungeon ?

"A different sounding system from the usual Judeo-Christian foundings modified by Victorian customs and post-modernist science of most society around . Labels aren't always useful, but a 'culture' implies a people. Has your people named themselves? " It would at least give a better indication of how to be polite, and avoid known pitfalls of offending someone- like not offering smalltalk to Germans, but definitely offering it to the Japanese.

"Bones are structure and form, and no objects of suspicion, superstition, or fear for me. " Quenton considered the final asking. "The significance....."

"- is near to heart deep buried, and my life has ever been a highly private one. If I come to know you better, I will tell it you someday, should you ask again with still present curiosity. The why is the matter of the memory, and the symbolism of the circumstance. "