Cass(per) the Unfriendly Ghost - By the Giant Red stiletto, 6:20AM, Nexus Time.

[clockwork_phoenix]

There was something to be said about being prompt, and early.

That it was incredibly frigging annoying. That's what.

Annabella Fennix paces back and forth in front of the bench near the giant stiletto-shoe.

She stops, and faces the bench, "Oh, Hallo Luc. I saw the ghost of your country's worst enemy ever."

A beat and a half, several ticks of clockwork.

Then a frustrated sound, running her left hand through her hair, "Oh. No. Sweet Lightning and Daughter of Thunder no, not like that."

She turns to the bench again. "Hallo General Marc! Bella here--"

"No." Geh, "Mein Gott no."

About Six-twenty-five, and three attempts later she simply resigns herself to pacing back and fourth.

This was not going to be easy to tell.

Not at all.

Comments

[aureliaofarista.livejournal.com]

"Morning, Bella. What's on your mind."

Luc is right on time, and looking concerned.

[gears-of-gold.livejournal.com]

Geh, he can come out of nowhere when he wants, can't he? Of course, she's also been distracted by her own internal thoughts on how to explain this.

As she explained it to Metody last night might be best.

And somewhere--as much as she respects the man for his job--she is greatly thankful that Luc is the one sent, and not General Marc.

"This is going to take a moment to explain." She drops down onto the bench with a huff, "It's what I almost explained last night, but I wasn't sure how to do so."

Tick tick, "Admittedly, I'm still not completely sure, but it's something you and yours should probably know."

[aureliaofarista.livejournal.com]

The Aristan door isn't all that far from the shoe.

Luc sits down next to her. "Well, we definitely appreciate any relevant information you might be able to share, of course. This isn't about Pat, is it? Because whatever it is, she probably didn't leave it out of her report."

[gears-of-gold.livejournal.com]

"It's not about Pat, no."

Okay. You can do this, Bella. You're supposed to be ~Lady Kintotech~ at some point in your big plan anyway, and being ~Lady Kintotech~ means you deliver bad news at some points.

Deep breath, "There was a ghost in the Sanctuary last night."

Tick, "A skeevy, used-airship-salesman-like man who just absolutely bothered the hell out of me."

"Smarmy, overconfident, the way he just looked at me, and he was an Aristan on top of that, something about the be-damned smile--"

It's probably about this point Luc's going to cut her off in the middle of her rant.

Because to be completely honest, it's probably fairly obvious who it is, at this point.

[aureliaofarista.livejournal.com]

"Cass." Luc wishes it was just cold hatred in his voice, but the emotions involved are all far more complicated than that, and far more warm. What's cold is in the pit of his stomach.

After just an instant, he suddenly has a great deal of focus.
"What happened? Where is he now -- Last night was the first." As if it possibly explained something. "Damned Nexus." But then he looks to her again, for the proper explanation.

[gears-of-gold.livejournal.com]

That does, indeed, cut off her rant, "Exactly. Cass." She doesn't say the name with near the complications that he does, but it is extraordinary dislike in her voice, you know, that sound of 'I really wish I could have shot him'.

"He simply appeared and tried to be what I can assume is his absolutely charming self in trying to talk to several of us. He mentioned something about someone burying an apple for him, and claimed last night was the only night he could appear."

"He kept trying to ask if Arista and the Nexus still had contact with one another, and how things were. And he got under mine and Herr Wright's skin at one point, to where we headed out in the yard."

A beat, "However, the Doctor used some sort of device to disperse him and send him away, much to his chagrin. And he didn't reappear since."

[aureliaofarista.livejournal.com]

"It has to be a partially a Nexus thing. Executed criminals' families have buried apples for them without dramatic results before. Of course, for Cass..." Luc just looks pained. "Dioscuri, I hope it wasn't the General." Luc really, really doesn't want to have to tell him about this as it is.

[gears-of-gold.livejournal.com]

"Believe me, I was hesitant about telling you in the first place." Bella runs her left hand through her hair again. "And I am guessing it was a Nexus effect of some kind, at this point."

"Either way, he's gone now, even after screaming that it wasn't fair when he was forcibly sent away by the Doctor's device."

"I felt it was something that you should know, despite how upsetting it probably is."

Ngh. Downright unnerving, he was.

[aureliaofarista.livejournal.com]

Luc kinda-smiles grimly. "Yes. Because the universe has unfairly conspired against Cass since we were 14 years old. Certainly it was never the necessary consequences of his own actions. I'll...have to offer the Doctor our thanks. And...thank you, Bella."

[gears-of-gold.livejournal.com]

She nods, "I'll be sure to do so."

"And, if there's anything else I can do, you can feel free to let me know." She kinda half-grins.

[aureliaofarista.livejournal.com]

"Did he cause any trouble besides...Cassness as a whole?"

[gears-of-gold.livejournal.com]

"Aside from being incredibly unnerving and cheerfully announcing what he attempted to do in the Sanctuary--including wondering how you were doing," Bella quickly puts two and two together regarding Luc's arm, but doesn't say anything about this realization. "He got under our skin and was generally extraordinarily chatty and smiley, but otherwise, he didn't actually cause any physical trouble."

[aureliaofarista.livejournal.com]

"Good to know, thank you."

[gears-of-gold.livejournal.com]

She nods, and stands, "It's not a problem, and I hope I didn't upset things too much on your end.

[aureliaofarista.livejournal.com]

"No, it's...It's a little hard to be dealing with Cass and not having to go into emergency mode. But some moment of sentimental weakness combined with Nexus nonsense isn't worth a quarantine or anything, don't worry." Another really week smile.

He stands too. "I need to go report." Look of pain there. "Thank you again."

[gears-of-gold.livejournal.com]

"Good Luck, Luc, I have a feeling you'll need it." She nods, and if he doesn't stop her, she's going to head off now.

Probably off to do something similar to target practice, while imagining she's shooting Cass. Smarmy creepy sonnofa..

[gears-of-gold.livejournal.com]

What happened next...