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* Cat sighs and closes the door to the head offices softly behind her, leaning on it a moment to look around the empty halls with a pang of nostalgia. * Cat straightens her shoulders. "Well... No Mistress Quel'shu, no Master Bluestar... I suppose Roni will have to do, then. This should be... interesting. Gods help me." * Cat heads down the hall to where she's been told "Professor Quilisian" keeps his office and knocks lightly on his door, gathering her shields around her and reaching absently for the pearl pendant she hasn't worn in over a year. <Ilarion> ::Roni's office is tiny, but tidy, something she wouldn't have expected of him. A single bookshelf backs the desk, filled with such obscure titles as "Man to Mouse, a study of Mental Metamorphosis". His desk has several neat stacks of paper and he's wading through one stack diligently. He barely looks up from his work at the sound of her knock:: Come. * Cat enters the office, taking the moment's respite to look around a bit and watch him at work. Today she is dressed for polite visiting in a lightly flounced dark-blue gown trimmed in black velvet. She waits for his attention with a faint smile. * Ilarion makes a gesture with one hand that seems to indicate sitting down and shutting up might be advised. "Hold on just a moment, I'm trying to trace this horrendously written sentence from one end to the other. I'm certain there's a thought buried in it somewhere. Damn the man who invented compound sentences." * Cat 's faint smile widens into an amused grin as she obediently perches quietly on a chair. <Ilarion> ::hums a bit under his breath, rather tunelessly, makes a few notes in the margins of the paper, then sets it aside with obvious relief:: So sorry to keep you wai - Kitty?! ::he nearly knocks his head on the low-hanging chandelier as he bolts up from his desk:: What in the hel- er... it's been a long time. <Cat> ::grins, eyes dancing at his most gratifying reaction:: That it has, Professor Quilisian. <Ilarion> ::makes a face:: Bother that... it's Roni to you, it's *always* been Roni to you. Gods, stand up, woman, and let me look at you! ::he scoots out from behind his desk to take her hand and kisses it warmly:: <Cat> ::grins, rising from her chair:: Come now, I had to try out the official title at *least* once. It's quite a mouthful, isn't it? <Ilarion> Oh, I agree... so do some of my students. I have a half-pack of them now who all call me "Professor Red". ::he rolls his eyes:: It's just fine to see you again, I'd heard... well, never mind the gossip. What are you doing here? Are you hungry? I was just going to pop out and grab a late lunch after I finished that wretched paper. <Cat> ::archly:: I'd be amused to hear the gossip, I think. But lunch sounds lovely... I came to see Mistress Quel'shu, but she's gone, and so is Master Bluestar for the day. I'm afraid you're my last, desperate hope, this afternoon. ::said with an easy grin:: * Ilarion puts his desk in order rather rapidly and tucks a belt pouch into his trousers. "I'd have to be, wouldn't I?" He offers her his arm. "I don't know if you've been, but some enterprising sort opened a lovely restaurant just across the way, where the old hat-shop used to be, remember? Quite good." <Cat> ::smiles and lays her hand on his arm:: No! Oh, but I loved those hats, they were so frightful! I swear, at this rate, the restaurant district is going to relocate across from our gates. <Ilarion> Someone's got to make money, and feeding us mind-benders is profitable, consistent, and generally keeps all the rest of the riff-raff away. They've got a wonderful selection of these... noodly things, with sausages and the like and cheese and sauces. And garlic breads. <Cat> "Noodly things"? Tsk! And you call yourself a writer, sir! <Ilarion> I forget what they're called... ::leads her out of the school and towards the restaurant, which smells heavenly:: <Cat> ::takes a deep, appreciative breath:: Oh, lovely... my treat, Roni, I insist. After all, I'm the one who's going to be picking your brain gratis. ::winks:: <Ilarion> Are you, then? I'd wondered why you'd come... ::he finds them a booth and opens a menu for Cat, then one for himself:: <Cat> ::seating herself and studying the menu for a moment:: Well, life goes on, as they say. ::sighs:: And the new abilities don't stop just because we're done with our schooling. ::scratching her cheek:: I felt it was high time to consult with, well, *some*body, particularly if it's what I suspect. <Ilarion> ::smiles:: Indeed they do... even Bluestar's been known to coin a new trick from time to time... nothing so impressive as tabling someone, though. ::turns to the waitress who's suddenly appeared:: Let's start with an assortment of appetizers, some tea, and a good deal of your wonderful bread, while we decide? <Cat> ::lowering her voice:: You know, I've heard him claim that the student did that to *himself.* I'm not quite sure which to believe. <Ilarion> ::shrugs one shoulder:: At this rate, it matters not in the slightest. It works wonders to keep even the most aggressively boisterous in line, and I'll not discourage the rumor. Psionics can be a handful, from the other side of the desk, you know. ::offers her a well-buttered piece of bread from the basket the waitress brought:: So... what abilities? <Cat> ::accepts the roll, tearing it in bite-sized pieces before eating a little:: Well... I've got a bit of clairaudience coming along quite nicely... oddly enough, tied to my object reading, though. The others... I'm not so certain of. ::chews her lip, and takes another bite of bread:: I've been having nightmares, sometimes. Not for a few months, and then another couple when I went to visit my mother's recently. <Cat> And sometimes when I pick something up, I'll get an odd... flash. ::frowning in thought at her plate:: Sort of like seeing its past, but... not. It's sort of... ::looks up at him questioningly:: dizzy, I suppose? I don't know how to describe it. One *certainly* felt like a future intent. <Ilarion> What sort of dreams? ::pours a bit of oil into a small clay dish and shakes a good deal of grated white cheese into it, using his bread to sop up the oils:: <Cat> They're very quick... lots of things jumbled together, as if someone were riffling through my memories. But... they're not things that have ever happened before. And some of them are horrible. People I know are alive, people I see every day... I'd put them off as just nightmares, but sometimes they have a quality to them, a clarity... it's like when I see the past. <Ilarion> Precog? Any of it happen yet? ::makes a face and offers her the dish of oil and cheese:: That's always a difficult ability to live with. <Cat> ::dips her bread in the oil and nibbles:: Ooh, that's good! One... could have, but I think I prevented it. ::shakes her head a little:: I don't *know*, that's the problem. It's very unsettling. <Ilarion> Isn't that always the trouble with precog... Remember Sanriel? He had quite a time with it, before he learned to control it. <Cat> ::nods:: Yes. ::sighs:: If I could just dream something small, something *peaceful*... but that's never the way of it, is it? And I don't want to risk one of the bad ones... ::her hand shakes a little as she dips another piece of bread in the bowl:: <Ilarion> ::nods slowly:: Sometimes you can get the small, peaceful things, if you try and *make* it happen, rather than just waiting for it to spring on you. <Cat> Hmmm... that's a thought. ::takes a sip of tea:: It's very different from postcog. At least that's mostly safely in the past. This is... a tiger by the tail, really. <Ilarion> ::nods:: I can imagine. ::the appetizers arrive, half-moons of fried cheese, baked and breaded vegetable slices with various sauces, and stuffed mushroom caps:: <Cat> ::bites her lip:: What makes it particularly scary is... it's what killed my great-grandmama. Accidentally, but still. ::frowning, her lips firming:: I *refuse* to let that happen to me. <Ilarion> ::shakes his head:: You're in a better position, Kitty... er, I probably shouldn't call you that anymore. ::he flushes lightly:: You're well-trained to recognize a 'what might be' from a 'what is.' If there's nothing more you've ever learned here, it's that the future is never certain. <Cat> ::smiles:: Kitty is alright. It makes me feel all nostalgic. And I will no more allow you to call me "Lady Hooke" than you'll let me use "Professor Quilisian." ::winks and pops a stuffed mushroom into her mouth:: <Ilarion> ::the waitress appears again, pad in hand. She gives Ilarion a saucy look:: Your usual, sir? And for the lady? ::grins when Ilarion nods:: <Cat> *laughs* I'll try these... ravel... ::peers at the menu again:: raviolo? Am I close? <Waitress> Of course, ma'am. ::the waitress jots a note:: It'll be out shortly. Take your time and give a holler if you need anything. <Cat> ::winces a little as the girl goes away:: I'm a "ma'am"? When did that happen? <Ilarion> Somewhat after I became 'sir'. It happens, Kitty. People grow up, grow apart, grow old... fact of life... ::he sighs:: <Cat> ::smiles, cocking her head:: Now you're just being generous. ::studying him closely:: You're... different, Roni. Not older, really, but... different. <Ilarion> ::snorts:: It's the workload... Bluestar's a real slave-driver, you know... and I've not changed near so much as you have. ::touches her wrist gently:: I never said, didn't even really know how to get in touch with you. I heard about your loss. My condolences, however belated. <Cat> ::bittersweet smile:: Thank you. It... no one did, really. It was... very hard, and so much to deal with at once, and... I sort of dropped out of sight for awhile. It was my choice. ::looking up again:: I'm a great deal better, now. I... there's someone who... takes very good care of me. ::blushes faintly:: * Ilarion looks at her seriously, studying her face. At last he smiles. "I'm glad to hear it. I did worry about you." <Cat> ::smiling at him:: Thank you. I won't say I'm glad I made you worry, but... ::small, impish smile:: Well, it *is* a little gratifying, after all. I... ::bites her lip again:: I know I really don't have a right to ask, but... how is it with you? And... Mira? It's still you and Mira, isn't it? <Ilarion> ::his jaw sets suddenly:: No, no it isn't. <Cat> ::winces:: I'm sorry, Roni. <Ilarion> I am, too. Thank you. ::he glances aside, blinking several times:: It still bleeds, sometimes, and I'm not even past the worst of it. She gone off again, so... we haven't talked about it. <Cat> ::touching his wrist lightly, in turn:: I *am* sorry, Roni. I... I know I can't be of any help to you, but... I wish I could. <Ilarion> Don't fret... Someone's taking very good care of me. ::it is his turn to blush and they are both still avoiding the other's eyes when the waitress returns with hot plates and very rich food to distract them:: <Cat> ::looks up from her plate, a little abashed at her shyness, meeting his eyes with a grin:: Then I'm happy for you. ::sighs contentment:: Well... I'm glad that's settled. You're not the only one who's been worrying. * Ilarion sets at his food with relish, a dish of noodles and sausages with cheese and white sauce that smells strongly of garlic and cream. <Cat> ::eyes his dish curiously, waiting to see how he's going to handle the long noodles before tucking into her own:: <Ilarion> ::wraps the noodles around his fork several times, making a tight bundle:: In any case, would you like... ::he coughs:: someone to watch you, while you try and force a precog? <Cat> ::chews her lip:: You mean... watch me sleep? I... don't know if I'd be comfortable with that. And I'm almost positive my bodyguard wouldn't be. <Ilarion> Well, not at night, no. I don't... er, it really wouldn't be... the gossip finally died out, I don't need to go stirring it again. I meant... I can put you under, let you sleep for about half an hour, under a controlled environment. <Cat> ::swallows:: Do you... dreamwalk? <Ilarion> ::nods:: I've been working on it... if nothing else, you'd have someone there to wake you, in case things got nasty. <Cat> ::takes a deep breath, lowering her voice:: Roni... I'll be honest with you. Some of the circles I move in now... ::bites her lip:: I'm... privy to secrets that aren't my own, and I have to be... careful. <Ilarion> ::looks at her seriously:: It's business, Cat. I took an oath, when I became a professor, you know. Confidentiality, among other things, is considered critical. <Cat> This goes beyond critical, Roni. I... ::looks down, chewing on her knuckle:: <Cat> ::takes a deep breath:: Alright. I already pretty well know that I can't do this myself, or I wouldn't have come. And I *need* to get a handle on this. <Ilarion> I won't betray you... Cat, even if I never cared about you at all... I gave my oath to take this job, and the job is very dear to me. Much as I complain about it sometimes. ::he gives her a half-hearted smile:: <Cat> ::wry smile:: Roni, I don't think I'd be half so worried if you *didn't* care for me once. We'll try it. Just... bear in mind, whatever you see never goes further than your head. And I really *am* alright, and happy. I promise you. <Ilarion> ::cracks his knuckles:: I still have the best shields in the school. It won't go anywhere but up here. ::taps his forehead:: Finish your lunch. You'll need your strength. <Cat> ::smiles:: Yes, sir. ::dutifully picking up her fork again and taking a bite of the ravioli, eyes widening:: Oh *gods*... this is good! <Ilarion> ::snorts:: Of course it is... You don't think I eat anywhere that the food is lousy on *purpose* do you? <Cat> Well, no, but... ::it comes out more as "el oh uh" as she keeps eating:: 'S *really* good! <Ilarion> ::grins:: Just wait til dessert. Although, really, we should get that packed up. And whatever we don't eat of our lunch. Last time I did a dreamwalk, I didn't plan ahead well enough... ::he shudders:: I ended up eating about a half a pound of butter, since I didn't have anything else. * Cat makes short work of her plate, finishing the whole thing and scraping up the last of the sauce with her spoon. "Dessert to go, definitely... and... maybe seconds..." She looks longingly towards the kitchen. "Where has this chef *been* all my life?" * Ilarion laughs. "Eat all you like, they'll make more." <Cat> Sweet gods... maybe I could buy this place... ::finishing her tea and rising to pay the bill, putting in an order for dessert to go and another order while she's at it, leaving a tip that nearly doubles the bill:: <Ilarion> ::slyly:: Then perhaps I'll see a bit more of you, as I eat here regularly... ::tucks up the basket of to-go food:: Let's go back to the lab, shall we? My house is probably more comfortable, but - and while she's a doll - Missa tends to ask some really awkward questions sometimes, that I'm sure neither of us wants to answer right now. <Cat> ::nods:: The School is... safer, anyway. <Ilarion> ::the lab itself - one of several, actually - is not so austere as it could have been, and Cat can see the touches of 'home' the students have put into their environment. One wall entire is covered with an enormous mural, painted by several different artists, that portray various scenes from school life. Desks ring the center of the room, and several cots and benches are along the back wall:: * Ilarion turns the 'In Use' sign on the door and locks it behind them. * Cat shakes out her hands and cracks her neck a little nervously, automatically moving into some of the little warm-ups from her morning routine to relax her. * Ilarion sets their food on a table and arranges a cot, chair and the lamps to his satisfaction, a rather more persnickety job than might be imagined. * Cat smiles again briefly, watching him, and finds herself thinking of Angel. Very carefully, she tucks that thought away into a protected corner of her mind. <Ilarion> ::finally finishes:: All right. Get comfortable, or at least as much as you can. ::he reaches into his belt pouch and takes out a crystal that he turns this way and that in the light, slowly, as rainbow patches dance over its surface:: * Cat lays down on one of the cots, piling up a few pillows and punching them into shape for her head before lying down. She turns a few times, trying to get comfortable, and finally settles onto her side, one arm drawn up around her waist. "Just... one moment, alright?" <Ilarion> ::nods:: Certainly... * Cat closes her eyes, her breathing slowing, body relaxing easily as she draws Angel's imaginary hand around her waist. She aches to reach out for him, but refrains, tucking the memory of him inside instead and relaxing on the little cot, putting her stray thoughts in order before opening her mind. "Ready..." * Ilarion begins to talk in a calm, lilting sort of tone, encouraging her to relax, to sleep, to remember those dreams, not so much the whats of the dream, but the specific way they felt in her mind, to open herself to those influences, and to try and recapture them. As he talks, she finds herself growing more and more sleepy. * Cat's eyes blink slowly a few times before her lashes sink to rest against her cheeks. Even as she starts to slide into sleep, her body tenses slightly in the way a dog will cower from a raised hand, remembering past abuse. * Ilarion watches her closely, a fond smile on his face, as she slips into sleep. When he thinks she's truly asleep, he places one hand on her forehead. "Here goes." He closes his eyes and enters into her mind. <Cat> ::Roni will note, much like his own office, that Cat's mind is much more orderly than when last he visited. It's also considerably better shielded, and he gets the sense of some dark, barely-there presence looming in the shadows that watches him even as he watches her sleep.:: * Ilarion slides along through her thoughts, looking for that particular feel of dream. He barely touches any of her thoughts and certainly keeps his mental fingers out of anything that looks to be close-guarded. <Cat> ::A bright, jumbled flash whizzes past him, spinning along in her dreams, yet with the clarity of a recent memory. The colors are bright, almost garish, jarring, confused:: * Ilarion grabs one of the bumbling thoughts, examines it closely for any hint of psionic energy, then releases it again. <Cat> ::Another shoots past, and another, caroming off one another, moving through each other-- bits of memory-yet-to-be, again with that crystalline feel, the dizzying sense of movement and shifting when one tries to examine it too closely:: * Ilarion touches the memory of things yet to come, almost closing his eyes against the dizzy, seasick feel of it, then releases himself into it, to see better from the inside. <Cat> ::From within, the movement is still jarring, unexpected, the colors unexpectedly reversing themselves before snapping back to normal, but the view is a little better. He sees the interior of an upscale jewelry shop, patrons strolling about, browsing, while the shopkeepers stand behind the counters ready to show off their wares. The two women bear a strong resemblance to Cat, one older, one a little younger. A tall, thin young man stands to the side:: * Ilarion carefully moves around the store, ghostly and unnoticed by the players of the dream. <Cat> ::The scene looks perfectly normal, but Cat turns over in her sleep, curling into herself with a faint whimper. There is an air of menace over the ordinary-seeming scene, something not quite right, something not where it belongs.:: * Ilarion looks around, trying to see if Cat is an observer or player in her own dream, frowning at the feel of malevolence. * Cat stands at the window outside, watching, one hand against the glass. She makes a fist, pounds on the glass, but within there is no sound. The scene shifts and blurs again, skipping like a badly spliced movie as the "actors" suddenly move and appear in different positions. The younger woman and the young man work in the shop alone together. His outline jumps, sometimes showing him normally, sometimes showing him as nothing more than a shadow. * Ilarion walks around the young man, disturbed by the flickering solidity. <Cat> ::The girl laughs at something the young man says, and for a moment, Roni hears the echo of her laughter in his ears, hears her voice indistinctly. The boy appears to reach within himself and draw out... something, presenting it to the girl. Cat moans in her sleep, recoiling from it. The object is hard to see-- by turns, it is a patch of blackness, a shifting snake, a death's head, a curiously-worked silver box that gleams prettily:: * Ilarion leans closer, peering at the box, at the young man, and at the girl's face. <Cat> ::the images will not stay still-- the box, particularly, almost writhes as it shifts from one thing to the next. The girl is smiling slightly as she accepts it. Her face shows a bit of wonder, curiosity, the sparkle of a challenge. The young man's face is completely in shadow now, his expression impossible to read, his eyes twin gleaming points as he watches the girl:: * Ilarion frowns again. He glances out the window where Cat's dream-avatar lingers. He closes his eyes, trying to pick out the threads of psionic talent at work. * Cat still stands at the window, her face half-turned away as if she cannot bear to look at the box. The scene jumps again a little, and the girl is alone with the box, silver-worker's tools around her. She reaches for it, and outside, Cat puts her hands over her face and screams. The dream-scene shatters into jagged pieces that go spinning off into the dream-current. * Ilarion jerks himself backwards out of Cat's mind. Gently, he shakes her shoulder. "Kitty?" * Cat wakes with a gasp, eyes wide and dilated. Her breathing is shaky, and she stares at Roni for a few moments with fearful eyes before recognizing him. "Roni... what... what happened? Was it a nightmare? What was it? The box... she can't touch that box!" <Ilarion> ::shakes his head, looking serious:: It's not a nightmare. Leastways, not *just* a nightmare. There were definite signs of your talent... <Cat> So-- the box is real? Could be real? It... I didn't understand what was happening. I don't know what it was, it kept... changing. It was horrible. ::wraps her arms around herself with a shudder:: <Ilarion> I don't know. I'm not much at interpretation... and precog is a tricky business, in any form. You never are really sure what's supposed to happen. It could always be that some horrible war that we'd all like to prevent did some very necessary good... ::looks bleak for a moment:: <Cat> The boy... I think that's Mama's journeyman. ::puts her hand to her lips:: I was going to tell you... I went to see them recently, and I met him for the first time. Nice enough young man, been with them almost a year now, but... there was something I didn't like about him. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I feel like he's trouble for them. Ellie especially... my sister. That was her, in my dream. <Cat> I was going to tell someone, and then... A-- a man I know was going to look into it. See if he's on the level. Sort of an... experiment. <Cat> ::frowns, rubbing the bridge of her nose:: I know I didn't explain that well.... <Ilarion> ::nods:: That's probably a good idea. It's difficult to tell, exactly, with these things. <Cat> But that box... that's the first time I've seen it that clearly. it was just a... dark thing, before, a mass of dark he took out of himself and put in her hands... ::shudders again:: I feel like that's the heart of it. Gods, I hope it's not supposed to be *his* heart! <Ilarion> It could be something quite complicated... your sister could marry the man, perhaps, and while they might be perfectly happy together, she might die trying to bear his child. ::winces:: Not that I want to suggest that, but that there are so many ways to... cloud the future. Mistress Tyl says the gods are none-too-fond of far-seers. <Cat> ::snorts, saying softly:: Lovely.... oh! That reminds me, though... * Cat eyes Roni, a tinge of red coming to her cheeks. "Er... I'm not certain if you'll be able to answer this, even. Perhaps I'd best wait with it..." <Ilarion> ::raises an eyebrow:: Never know til you ask... <Cat> ::clears her throat nervously:: True. I... mind, this is just... theoretical. ::blushes:: A friend just bore her first babe, and that puts girls in mind of that sort of thing... but anyway, I was thinking-- psionics takes *my* energy. Are there, er, particular things a psionic needs to look out for, if she means to... um... have a baby? <Ilarion> ::puts his hands on her arms suddenly:: Are you pregnant? ::his face goes pale:: <Cat> ::blushing:: I'd *really* meant to talk to Lady Quel'shu about this part... what? No! At least, not that *I* know of, and I'd think I would! I just mean... for later. If I ever *want* to. <Cat> Sweet gods, Roni, from the look on your face you'd think I'd just told you it was *yours*! Why, what's wrong? <Ilarion> ::drops his hands, not looking at her:: We've had... some incidents. Can you shape-shift? Any of those psychometabolism abilities? <Cat> ::paling a little herself:: Incidents? ::shakes her head:: No, I've never done any of that. Would that I *could* sometimes, but-- no. ::thinks:: I think I might've reached into Metapsionics a time or two, but... that's it. <Ilarion> ::shudders:: Just... if you're trying, or you get pregnant, don't use those abilities. Especially in the early parts of the pregnancy. ::he bites his lip:: The girl died, giving birth to a mixed up, part-animal... thing. It was pretty awful. <Cat> ::shivers:: Right. But... ::frowns a little, thinking:: You know, I met a psionic once who had... kittens. <Ilarion> ::nods slowly:: Miss Sealgair. I've heard about her... but from what I understand, she was more powerful than most of the entire school put together. Don't take the risk, Cat. <Cat> ::smiles:: Don't worry. That's not one of my particular talents. Not that I'm the strongest psionic going, anyways. <Ilarion> Other than that, what we've learned so far: psionics is decidedly an inheritable trait... Ilya's starting to come into her abilities nicely. She starts classes when she gets back from her mother's. <Ilarion> Back in my office, I have a copy of some papers on the subject that Mistress Tyl's been compiling, if you'd like to borrow it? <Cat> ::raises an eyebrow:: Yes, if anyone knows about psionic inheritances.... Did I ever tell you I met my great-grandmother? ::shakes her head:: Anyway-- yes, I would be glad to borrow that for a bit. <Cat> It's just... ::shrugs a shoulder:: I'm getting... about that age, you know? A woman starts to think about it... and it occurred to me, this was definitely the sort of thing I'd best know about aforehand, rather than being surprised. <Ilarion> ::looks at her closely:: Somehow, I don't believe you, but I'll let it lay. Subject change, then. ::turns to the tables:: Are you hungry? That was a bit of an exertion on my part, at least... <Cat> ::firmly:: I am *not* pregnant, Roni. ::grins a little:: Besides, how could you tell? All psionics eat for two. <Ilarion> ::just as firmly:: I said, I wasn't asking. Open your dessert, I think you'll find it to your liking. <Cat> ::still grinning:: Yes, sir, Professor Red, sir. ::opens the box, sighing at the sight of a great deal of horribly fattening cream:: <Cat> *Much* better than butter. <Ilarion> Oh, I agree. ::opens his own, a chocolate confection:: <Cat> ::attacks with her spoon, making a significant dent in the dessert's creamy defenses:: |
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