Current State of Affairs [Lucien|Open]

[Reira Ling]

Reira has been holed up in the Shugo Manor for the past few months helping out those that took refuge there. She hasn't exactly ventured out to the other territories to stay on top of current affairs, but figured it was about time to.

She left with a small pack slung across her shoulders containing a few snacks and water just in case she gets detoured along the way home. Entering the neutral areas of California she scrounged around, looking for both familiar and unfamiliar faces so that she could possibly get some information.

Reira ends up heading towards her old hideout. It was a small desolated community, but the houses were still intact and it was there that she hid some resources prior to leaving for Shugo Manor. She casually takes a stroll down the sidewalk keeping an eye out for any other individuals.

[Lucien DeChain]

Lucien stepped into Neutral territory, patrolling the edges of Crow territory. He had heard a rumour of a violent offender just out of the border, and he had to be sure. So, as he walked along with his staff, wearing a dark fluffly hoodie, he noticed the sky, and decided that a storm was probably brewing.

As he looked back down to the street, he saw a woman walking along with a pack. She was walking down the broken sidewalk, and seemed to be looking for someone, or something. Lucien started to approach her, saying "Hello there! Are you lost?"

[Reira Ling]

Reira almost jumped at the greeting but she retained her composure, opting to turn around toward the sound of the friendly voice. Her green eyes glanced at the stranger and she slowly started approaching him as well with a slight wave with her free hand.

"Hello." she greets in response with a smile before shaking her head slightly. "No, I'm not. And yourself?"

Reira still keeps her eyes on him, she wasn't sure if he was a threat or not. There were some scary people around here even if it was considered the neutral area.

[Lucien DeChain]

{OOC: LUCIEN IS SO AWKWARD AROUND GIRLS THAT A SANDWICH WITH CURVES WILL FRIGHTEN HIM.}

Lucien would smile back, now that he could see her face, she was quite pretty. For a second, he was somewhere else, but he snapped back to reality when she spoke. She didn't seem like a violent offender, but Lucien had been wrong before. So, when he replied, he tried to be cordial while still keeping his wits about him.

"Lost? No, just on patrol. Lucien DeChain, of the Crows. Nice to meet you, miss...?" He would reach his hand towards her, asking for her name.

It also slightly unnerved Lucien that there was no one else around, and, even in midday, this place looked deserted.

[Reira Ling]

Reira's eyes widen slightly when he introduced himself! She would take his hand without hesitation given that he was part of the Crows.

"Pleasure to meet you Lucien. I'm Reira Ling." she says with a rather firm shake and bright smile. "Has Kiyoshi been doing well?"

She had no idea of the current power structure an chain of command in the Crows anymore, but the last time she met them they were kind to her so she had no ill will towards the group regardless.

[Lucien DeChain]

Reira Ling, eh...? Doesn't sound familiar. Kiyoshi, on the other hand... Lucien would smile at the mention of the name, trying to think of what to say about their reclusive leader.

"Kiyoshi, well... He's not seeing visitors at the moment." Lucien would say, his smile turning slightly apologetic. He had only ever heard mention of him, but as far as Lucien knew, he was still alive.

"So, Reira Ling, what brings you all the way out here?"

[Reira Ling]

"That's unfortunate. I would have liked to thank him again for his kindness he showed last time. But I guess we'll save it for when he has a better mood." she jokes with a small laugh at the end.

"As for what I'm doing here..."

Reira glances around again as she blinks almost forgetting her original objective.

"Oh! Right. Umm, would you happen to be able to update me with the current events? I've been preoccupied with the refugees at the Yuy Manor that I haven't exactly been up-to-date."

[Lucien DeChain]

Lucien felt bad for not telling the whole truth about Kiyoshi, but it was all he really could say. Though, this Reira seemed pretty out of the loop. Maybe he should update her on everything.

"I'd love to, Reira Ling. But not here, for I am hesitant to give out such information in a public forum, in case we're being eavesdropped upon."

He gestured with his hand, for her to walk with him. "There's a safehouse of ours near here. It's got food, water, and couches that are semi-comfortable. I'll tell you all you want to know."

[Reira Ling]

Reira nods, figuring he was correct with being a little more cautious. Information is a valuable commodity, and although Reira would reciprocate in equal parts what he would offer, his kindness was not overlooked.

As he gestured for her to follow, she'd tuck a stray lock of hair around her ear before glancing around. If this went anything like last time with another Crow, she'd have nothing to be afraid of. She'd take a leap of faith and tagalong with Lucien without too much doubt.

"I appreciate all your help, Lucien. Don't hesitate to ask if there is anything I could help you with in return." she comments with a smile.

[Lucien DeChain]

Lucien smiled a half-smile. "You're welcome, Reira Ling. And thank you."

He led her through a small street, a few blocks past the border. The Crows would always be finding abandoned buildings, checking for squatters and such, and refurbishing them into little hidey-holes. It was a talent, really.

An old warehouse stood in front of them. The walls were bare, and an old faded sign, now illegible, hung over an entrance. Lucien unlocked the door with a key withdrawn from his pocket, leading his guest inside. Once inside, down two hallways and past an open warehouse area was a Crow patented saferoom, complete with couches lining the walls, cabinets full of food, and a kettle ready for boil on a propane stove.

Lucien strode in, feeling a sense of nostalgia. It was a place very similar to this that he first joined the Crows. He waited for his guest to enter, and then locked the door. Sitting down on one of the couches, he fidgeted in his seat to find a spot that wasn't completely uncomfortable. A quick check of his internal clock told him that he should be calling the nest to report soon. Though, he could wait a few more minutes...

"So, Reira Ling. How far back do you want me to go?"

[Reira Ling]

"Just Reira is fine." she replies softly in reference to the full name basis before following along.

Just as the Crows did, Reira did very much the same before Shugo found her. Though, she was probably in much worse shape than the group was. Afterall being a lone traveller and survivor meant less productivity and ground covered in search of necessities. Reira continues along silently in her thoughts before her bright green eyes looked around the warehouse with interest and excitement upon entering. Being a guest in someone's home was also quite a nostalgic feeling, and this little Crow nest gave her a feeling that reminded her of home.

After a few steps in she'd bow her head lightly and excuse herself, "Ojama shimasu".

Some manners were semi-ingrained in her due to living with a Japanese family for quite some time despite the asian portion of her ethnicity being Chinese.

She'd seat herself on one of the couches once Lucien himself was seated before tilting her head his way curiously.

"Perhaps what had happened the past...two months?" she questions with slight uncertainty as she looks at her fingers.

It was a little hard to keep track of time.

[Lucien DeChain]

At her display of manners, Lucien would simply smile, and say "Douzo Ohairi Kudasai."

When they were seated, Lucien pondered on how much has gone on in the last 2 months... That was quite a while, wasn't it?

"Well, around 2 months ago was the time I was initiated into the Crows, so I'll start there..."

As Lucien explained everything that he knew, with diplomatic relations between Crows and Dragons, the war that the Crows fought against Barker's prisoners, the capturing, and freeing, of Zack Asiv, the state of "Unfettered" and Kiyoshi (as he knew it), and the current chain of command of the Crows.

"...And, well, I think that's about all I know."

BOOM

Lucien turned quickly, but then realized that there was a storm outside. At least they were safe in here.

"Ah, just thunder."

[Reira Ling]

Reira blinks innocently at Lucien with the warm welcome before breaking out in a big smile.

But now that they were seated and she was updated in the information it wasn't too much to take in and she registered the facts silently in her head. She nods along as he speaks until he finished. It was a surprise to see the factions set up different relations and the slight differences in the chain of command but it didn't affect her too much since she didn't exactly belong to a faction herself. Shugo may have dubbed her a 'Defender' but she wasn't the type to be part of a group, not yet anyway.

"Thank you, Luc-"

BOOM.

Reira yelped, jumping slightly from her seat as she pales instantly. She looks at Lucien with wide eyes before fidgeting in her seat.

[Lucien DeChain]

Noticing Reira's reaction to the thunder, Lucien would look back at her, a look on his face saying Oh....

He would rumble around the room as the rain began to fall, gathering blankets, boiling a pot of water for tea, and motioning for Reira to sit on a specific couch, which she would find extremely comfortable. He sat the two blankets down on the couch beside her, and heard the kettle's whistle.

Turning off the kettle, he found an old cracked teapot and a few bags of green tea. Preparing it, he would allow it to steep before bringing it over to a table by the couch, with two small ceramic mugs.

Satisfied, he would pour a cup of tea for her, and hesitated slightly before eventually pouring a small one for himself. Tea is basically just water, right?

Offering the cup to Reira, he would explain. "My mother was afraid of thunderstorms. So, whenever we heard a storm coming, my father would find blankets, tea, and a comfy spot to sit."

Sitting down a fair distance away from her, as he didn't want to sit too close, he continued. "And, with this storm rolling in, we'll probably be here for a while."

BOOM

[Reira Ling]

Reira would continue to fidget in great distress, quietly anticipating the next roar. As Lucien leaves momentarily to go set the kettle on the stove and make tea, Rei would bring her knees up to curl up on her seat - a means to self soothe. But upon being introduced to the big comfy couch, she'd migrate from her seat to the comfy one and curl up in the corner of the seat by the arm rest.

Her eyes settle on the blankets and she'd immediately throw one over herself and wrapping herself up, only allowing her face to be shown. She definitely felt safer in her burrito-ed form.

Still waiting on that 'Boom'...

When Lucien returned with the tea, Rei would let up with the blanket bundling and release her arms in order to receive the tea.

"Thank you..." she'd nod in response, though still feeling tense. "Your father had some good ideas."

The extra warmth and soft blankets definitely helped until...

BOOM.

"Nghmm!" she'd gasp and intone in discomfort, while clenching her eyes shut momentarily.

As the sound lets up she'd crack them open again and glance at Lucien apologetically.

"Sorry...for making you take care of my like this."

Reira felt bad for making him babysit.