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"It's refreshing," he assured. He much preferred the Mediterranean and Asian persuasions - it was so much more vibrant then The British or the Irish isles. More vibrant then his own France, as much as it pained him to say it.
"Oh, he's a perfectly viable donor, scientifically speaking. He's even a little spicy, like the Mage's can be. He just doesn't have much in him, I suppose. And you should know, Cassidy isn't like us in feeding. Not just the animal parts - he can eat food, properly, and survive off it. His bite is... well, painfully ugly and mundane next to our neatness and ability to cover our tracks. Cassidy chews and actually consumes his victims. More like Cannibalism really, if you ask me."
"Oh, he's a perfectly viable donor, scientifically speaking. He's even a little spicy, like the Mage's can be. He just doesn't have much in him, I suppose. And you should know, Cassidy isn't like us in feeding. Not just the animal parts - he can eat food, properly, and survive off it. His bite is... well, painfully ugly and mundane next to our neatness and ability to cover our tracks. Cassidy chews and actually consumes his victims. More like Cannibalism really, if you ask me."
"At great speed, apparently."
Cassidy was a bit goggle-eyed at the speed with which Matt had executed that move — while it wasn't the first time he'd gotten a glimpse at Matt's celerity, it was the first time he'd gotten a really good view of it. He'd follow if Matt headed off, keeping pace as long as it was possible.
"Now, there's plenty of places to lay low." He started counting them off on his fingers: "Hysterium, our respective rooms in the castle... heard there's a hookah bar I've not been to yet..."
Cassidy was a bit goggle-eyed at the speed with which Matt had executed that move — while it wasn't the first time he'd gotten a glimpse at Matt's celerity, it was the first time he'd gotten a really good view of it. He'd follow if Matt headed off, keeping pace as long as it was possible.
"Now, there's plenty of places to lay low." He started counting them off on his fingers: "Hysterium, our respective rooms in the castle... heard there's a hookah bar I've not been to yet..."
"Legging it is a particular Clan talent of mine," he said darkly, choosing to ignore the best and primary use he'd had for it not too many decades ago and the nickname he'd earned being clean amid the trench of blood he'd caused.
His pace was kept reasonable when with company that couldn't move as quickly as he could, but he looked sidelong at Cassidy as they walked, keeping well within the treeline.
"Secret speakeasy might be the ticket, but there's drugs in my room and that's where I'd like to be. You coming or am I forcibly relocating myself?" Because no, he wasn't just going to 'let him go' after coming to clean up a rather ugly kind of mess. He wasn't going to chance taking any responsibility as the Elder, for this mishap.
His pace was kept reasonable when with company that couldn't move as quickly as he could, but he looked sidelong at Cassidy as they walked, keeping well within the treeline.
"Secret speakeasy might be the ticket, but there's drugs in my room and that's where I'd like to be. You coming or am I forcibly relocating myself?" Because no, he wasn't just going to 'let him go' after coming to clean up a rather ugly kind of mess. He wasn't going to chance taking any responsibility as the Elder, for this mishap.
“The secret speakeasy that’s not so secret,” Cassidy sneered, by way of agreement. “Plus, paid-for drinks versus free drugs? Castle it is.”
Now that the primary concerns had been taken care of, there was space for the predatory gleam to slip back into his eyes. It was there in the sidelong glance he sent in Matt’s direction before focusing on the path in front of them.
Maybe Matt was only thinking about getting to his stash. Cassidy was thinking back to their previous tumble out in the Wilds, and how the balance of power had come down in one particular direction, and how he’d rather like to try returning the favor.
Now that the primary concerns had been taken care of, there was space for the predatory gleam to slip back into his eyes. It was there in the sidelong glance he sent in Matt’s direction before focusing on the path in front of them.
Maybe Matt was only thinking about getting to his stash. Cassidy was thinking back to their previous tumble out in the Wilds, and how the balance of power had come down in one particular direction, and how he’d rather like to try returning the favor.
"Kill enough people and it will be again." It wasn't humor - his mind was too busy, whirling around between his ears in a way that left him not minding what came out of his mouth as they treked over and under branches. He needed a hit, he needed the distraction, and badly so. He could feel his feathers ruffling again with a restlessness he couldn't quite define.
"But good. Saves me the energy otherwise spent on a smile. Speaking of, have you managed to get a hold of any of the mushrooms yet? Considering how poorly we failed at our task last time, I'm thinking of sending one of the humans out to do it. A pretty please and some bullshit about it opening at dusk or something.."
"But good. Saves me the energy otherwise spent on a smile. Speaking of, have you managed to get a hold of any of the mushrooms yet? Considering how poorly we failed at our task last time, I'm thinking of sending one of the humans out to do it. A pretty please and some bullshit about it opening at dusk or something.."
It didn't sound like a joke, and it hit Cassidy's ear oddly in the nanosecond before he remembered, oh right, he had just almost killed someone.
"You hopin' to stop me from some sort of rampage?" That was a joke, or at least was meant to be one. Then he felt the thirst at the back of his throat. He stepped on a twig, and the snap of it stabbed into his ear. "...that's a solid plan. Good thinkin', mate."
The mushrooms — something else to think about for a stretch. "Haven't made a lot of treks out this way. Probably for good bloody reason. We should've stayed in the bar; then this never would've happened."
"You hopin' to stop me from some sort of rampage?" That was a joke, or at least was meant to be one. Then he felt the thirst at the back of his throat. He stepped on a twig, and the snap of it stabbed into his ear. "...that's a solid plan. Good thinkin', mate."
The mushrooms — something else to think about for a stretch. "Haven't made a lot of treks out this way. Probably for good bloody reason. We should've stayed in the bar; then this never would've happened."
It was his sister's solution to the problem. Matt could already feel her claws peeking out from the inside corner of his mind, telling him how to solve the problem 'properly'.
He huffed a breath that hinted at amusement at the question, brushing a flexiable branch out of his way and holding it until Cassidy passed.
"Shoulda, woulda, coulda. Bars get boring anyways. And while I've never turned anyone, these things shouldn't be handled alone. Not if we're wanting to keep people safe, hmm?"
He huffed a breath that hinted at amusement at the question, brushing a flexiable branch out of his way and holding it until Cassidy passed.
"Shoulda, woulda, coulda. Bars get boring anyways. And while I've never turned anyone, these things shouldn't be handled alone. Not if we're wanting to keep people safe, hmm?"
"Safety first. That's priority number one." As much as Cassidy might agree, the comment came out glib — the itch to get physical again in some kind of way was starting to drown out everything else. Conversation was just a way to fill time.
These things. What did Matt mean by that? Turning someone? He couldn't — they couldn't turn anyone here, right? Cassidy concluded he must have been talking about the pollen situation.
"And I expect you can handle it — that is, if previous experience is any indication, eh, mate?"
These things. What did Matt mean by that? Turning someone? He couldn't — they couldn't turn anyone here, right? Cassidy concluded he must have been talking about the pollen situation.
"And I expect you can handle it — that is, if previous experience is any indication, eh, mate?"
They were making good time with the stretch of Matt's stride that didn't quite reach as far as Cassidy, making the smaller man look more like he was hurrying, while Cassidy got to amble along.
Matt hoped Cassidy was regaining sense of himself, even as a restless nervousness settled under his skin, caused no doubt by the pollen in the air. He, of course, didn't think a thing towards it, to far stuck in his own experience to keep an eye out for something new.
"Previous experience?" he asked up at the man as they came up on the town. They were in the mist of a misunderstanding. "If I've helped clean up another mess and forgotten about it, I might have to accept jokes about my age. Can't have that.
Either way - because it's He Ming, we might be fine. Let's not test that theory on anyone else's neck."
Matt hoped Cassidy was regaining sense of himself, even as a restless nervousness settled under his skin, caused no doubt by the pollen in the air. He, of course, didn't think a thing towards it, to far stuck in his own experience to keep an eye out for something new.
"Previous experience?" he asked up at the man as they came up on the town. They were in the mist of a misunderstanding. "If I've helped clean up another mess and forgotten about it, I might have to accept jokes about my age. Can't have that.
Either way - because it's He Ming, we might be fine. Let's not test that theory on anyone else's neck."
It was a style she had come to appreciate over the years, though it wasn't until after her release from the compound that she had begun to identify more with the culture. It was simplistic and offered peace, far different from the loud lifestyle that she had lead before. This was calm, relaxed and an oasis for her.
"Yeah, Cassidy seemed a bit shocked when I said I feed on mortals. So I'm guessing it's not something that they do very often." She couldn't imagine the Kiss any other way. It was a beautiful thing and could lead to a lot of pleasure, not just for mortals but for kindred. She pitied the vampires from Cassidy's world. It wasn't a life she wouldn't want to live.
"No responses from the fae though? Maybe you guys should just avoid He Ming and nibble on someone else? It seems like he's inviting trouble and this constant dying of his is going to get old real fast."
"Yeah, Cassidy seemed a bit shocked when I said I feed on mortals. So I'm guessing it's not something that they do very often." She couldn't imagine the Kiss any other way. It was a beautiful thing and could lead to a lot of pleasure, not just for mortals but for kindred. She pitied the vampires from Cassidy's world. It wasn't a life she wouldn't want to live.
"No responses from the fae though? Maybe you guys should just avoid He Ming and nibble on someone else? It seems like he's inviting trouble and this constant dying of his is going to get old real fast."
The misunderstanding didn't slip past unnoticed — Cassidy still let it slip past. He had a feeling it would sort itself out. The really important thing was they were both in agreement about going back to Matt's room.
"Let's not."
And because he was feeling significantly amped-up, he had no trouble giving in to the impulse for a more physical public gesture than usual. Mid-stride, Cassidy slowed the half-step necessary to give Matt a solid slap on the ass.
"Anyway, I reckon I've got some favors need returnin'. Eh?"
"Let's not."
And because he was feeling significantly amped-up, he had no trouble giving in to the impulse for a more physical public gesture than usual. Mid-stride, Cassidy slowed the half-step necessary to give Matt a solid slap on the ass.
"Anyway, I reckon I've got some favors need returnin'. Eh?"
Matt jumped and scoffed at the swat on his ass, turning to look up at Cassidy like he'd grown a third head, however handsome ahead it might be and scoffed again smirking.
"You're really chomping at the bit today, aren't we? Do you know how lucky you are to successfully get to slap that?" Matt grinned. Cassidy's nature was infectious and Matt's mood was porous at best.
Either way, they were there and Matthew opened the door and walked in, letting Cassidy man it's closing per usual. "If we were anywhere else, it might be weird."
But this place had stock and trade on sex and its effects. He could see what was going on.
"You're really chomping at the bit today, aren't we? Do you know how lucky you are to successfully get to slap that?" Matt grinned. Cassidy's nature was infectious and Matt's mood was porous at best.
Either way, they were there and Matthew opened the door and walked in, letting Cassidy man it's closing per usual. "If we were anywhere else, it might be weird."
But this place had stock and trade on sex and its effects. He could see what was going on.
Matthew pitied the mortals that had to deal with that kind of monstrosity. Sure, Cassidy was fine if everything was going okay, but the first sign of true hunger, the man might actually eat them alive.
He shook his head. "Not so far, no, though I wouldn't put it past them to keep this on tabs like a schoolteacher keeping track of demerits. And you say that like it's easy. You haven't met him yet, have you?"
No, of course she hadn't, otherwise she'd know the draw of the man. It was supernatural. It was Extra and it was undeniable.
"He oozes my kind of charisma. It works on both Cassidy and I, apparently. You know how hard it is to avoid that pull."
He shook his head. "Not so far, no, though I wouldn't put it past them to keep this on tabs like a schoolteacher keeping track of demerits. And you say that like it's easy. You haven't met him yet, have you?"
No, of course she hadn't, otherwise she'd know the draw of the man. It was supernatural. It was Extra and it was undeniable.
"He oozes my kind of charisma. It works on both Cassidy and I, apparently. You know how hard it is to avoid that pull."
She laughed a bit more loudly than she meant to. Yes, she knew how undeniable a person in possession of that sort of charm could be, but it was an addiction no different than anything else. And no matter how attractive a person can be, if there was something poisonous about them, it was better to give them a wide girth like you would a snake. She'd learned that the hard way, though her sister would argue it still hadn't gotten through her head because Matt. "No one has your kind of charisma."
He was right, she hadn't met this man and never intended to. She knew better than to interact with Matt's playmates, but more than that, he was a troublemaker and she had her share of trouble in her life. She'd stick to the kind Matt brought her and be satisfied.
"I think it's easy to get distracted by one pretty flower in the bunch. It might have a nicer perfume, but if it's got poisonous thorns, nothing is going to convince me to touch it. You're surrounded by people willing to play with you. I don't think it's going to take much for you to avoid being around someone like this." However smart Cassidy and Matt were, they were men. Men were always susceptible to pretty smiles. "Is this kid really worth it when he's died twice? What are the fae going to do if this becomes a habit? I say no more feeding from him. Stick to whores."
He was right, she hadn't met this man and never intended to. She knew better than to interact with Matt's playmates, but more than that, he was a troublemaker and she had her share of trouble in her life. She'd stick to the kind Matt brought her and be satisfied.
"I think it's easy to get distracted by one pretty flower in the bunch. It might have a nicer perfume, but if it's got poisonous thorns, nothing is going to convince me to touch it. You're surrounded by people willing to play with you. I don't think it's going to take much for you to avoid being around someone like this." However smart Cassidy and Matt were, they were men. Men were always susceptible to pretty smiles. "Is this kid really worth it when he's died twice? What are the fae going to do if this becomes a habit? I say no more feeding from him. Stick to whores."
"Hmm, well, I appreciate your opinion on the matter. Worth it doesn't much come into the equation though, does it. Not when we're talking about that kind of draw." He shook his head. "No, I think perhaps the person to talk to is exactly He Ming. Perhaps he could be made to understand and take responsibility for what he creates around him. I certainly have been held to that standard, so should he."
Shifting on the pillows, Matt looked around for his pipe, 'Ah'ing softly as he finds it and pulls it out.
"I'm curious as to why the Patrons haven't said anything, to be honest - Maybe near death doesn't count, here. He Ming certainly doesn't seem to mind, when it's all said and done."
Shifting on the pillows, Matt looked around for his pipe, 'Ah'ing softly as he finds it and pulls it out.
"I'm curious as to why the Patrons haven't said anything, to be honest - Maybe near death doesn't count, here. He Ming certainly doesn't seem to mind, when it's all said and done."
"You know I'm not about to make judgement calls." But it didn't mean that she had to approve of any of this. Whether or not Matt could fight the draw was one thing, but it sounded like this man, He Ming, didn't have much control over his powers. It was reckless and irresponsible. She never had a good opinion of Matt's playmates, unless they were mutual friends (which was rare). But this didn't make her think any better of him.
"Maybe they find all of this shit entertaining?" She shrugged, scooting closer as he brought out the pipe, a bright smile on her face at the prospect of Opium. "They want drama, they throw a bunch of us together and watch the fall out. It would explain why they bring in vampires, but provide nothing."
She made a face, giving a scoff. "Well no, he won't complain. He's already done this once before and is tangling with another vampire. I'm starting to wonder if he's a bite bunny. You know? Those mortals that chase after being a vampire's pet because they see it as some sort of thrill."
Not that it mattered. Whatever got him off, she supposed. "How is it that I feel too old for that shit, but you're older than me and still getting pulled in?" She poked him in the side. "Shouldn't you be feeling like an old man and more of a homebody?"
"Maybe they find all of this shit entertaining?" She shrugged, scooting closer as he brought out the pipe, a bright smile on her face at the prospect of Opium. "They want drama, they throw a bunch of us together and watch the fall out. It would explain why they bring in vampires, but provide nothing."
She made a face, giving a scoff. "Well no, he won't complain. He's already done this once before and is tangling with another vampire. I'm starting to wonder if he's a bite bunny. You know? Those mortals that chase after being a vampire's pet because they see it as some sort of thrill."
Not that it mattered. Whatever got him off, she supposed. "How is it that I feel too old for that shit, but you're older than me and still getting pulled in?" She poked him in the side. "Shouldn't you be feeling like an old man and more of a homebody?"
Chomping at the bit — "Like a dog after a bone, so to speak. Should've learned from Alien — don't go near anythin' that looks like a giant egg."
Which, Cassidy thought as he shut the door behind him, wasn't to say he didn't feel good. But it was an itchy, too-much-energy sort of good. The sort where if he didn't keep moving, if he tried to repress himself, it could turn just as bad real quick.
"Long as I'm here, though..." So long as Matt was inviting him to... "I might just keep pressin' my luck."
They were face-to-face, now, and Cassidy raised a hand to grasp at Matt's shirt, close to the collar and the line of buttons. Loosely at first, then tighter, pulling as though preparing to snap those buttons off with a tug at any second. Not going through with it yet, but teasing Matt with the possibility.
"Don't think I haven't noticed you wearin' such nice clothes all the time."
Which, Cassidy thought as he shut the door behind him, wasn't to say he didn't feel good. But it was an itchy, too-much-energy sort of good. The sort where if he didn't keep moving, if he tried to repress himself, it could turn just as bad real quick.
"Long as I'm here, though..." So long as Matt was inviting him to... "I might just keep pressin' my luck."
They were face-to-face, now, and Cassidy raised a hand to grasp at Matt's shirt, close to the collar and the line of buttons. Loosely at first, then tighter, pulling as though preparing to snap those buttons off with a tug at any second. Not going through with it yet, but teasing Matt with the possibility.
"Don't think I haven't noticed you wearin' such nice clothes all the time."
"Definitely not," he said, stopping to turn and face his friend as he came forward. There wasn't going to be any polite foreplay here, no social niceties, no 'how's your drink doing', not with the energy between their chests as Matt looked up at Cassidy, one heavy eyebrow arching over a smug smile.
"Man's gotta have his pride," he replied, sending one long, head tilting glance down Cassidy's half dressed form. "Though they don't always have to stay nice."
There was an impulse to say 'ain't' instead of don't. The twang was almost addicting.
"You gonna do something about that?" As he asked, one hand crept around Cassidy's waist and pulled his hips forward.
"Man's gotta have his pride," he replied, sending one long, head tilting glance down Cassidy's half dressed form. "Though they don't always have to stay nice."
There was an impulse to say 'ain't' instead of don't. The twang was almost addicting.
"You gonna do something about that?" As he asked, one hand crept around Cassidy's waist and pulled his hips forward.
When he heard the accent threatening to overlay Matt's voice, Cassidy realized he'd been here a hell of a lot longer than he'd been stuck in Texas. It didn't feel that long. Time flies when you're having fun, maybe.
Cassidy's lip curled. Matt had gotten lucky, looking the way he did. Number one reason Cassidy had gotten to know him. He seemed aware of it, too — what was it he'd said while Cass had been lying under him? Someone's got to be the lucky fucker. Cocky bastard.
He tightened his fingers one more time and pulled sharp, snapping off three buttons at once. His other hand raked through Matt's hair from the front, pushing his head back until it reached the angle he was looking for, and then he held it there as he gave the shirt one more pull — only one button gone this time, but he also nearly pulled the shirt tails out of Matt's trousers.
Through a grin, he snapped his teeth in Matt's face... then met his mouth with a kiss, and moved his hands to start undressing Matt more thoroughly.
Cassidy's lip curled. Matt had gotten lucky, looking the way he did. Number one reason Cassidy had gotten to know him. He seemed aware of it, too — what was it he'd said while Cass had been lying under him? Someone's got to be the lucky fucker. Cocky bastard.
He tightened his fingers one more time and pulled sharp, snapping off three buttons at once. His other hand raked through Matt's hair from the front, pushing his head back until it reached the angle he was looking for, and then he held it there as he gave the shirt one more pull — only one button gone this time, but he also nearly pulled the shirt tails out of Matt's trousers.
Through a grin, he snapped his teeth in Matt's face... then met his mouth with a kiss, and moved his hands to start undressing Matt more thoroughly.
At least normally, Matthew's playmates weren't dangerous. Just a little flesh and blood and sex to entertain him, but this place brought in a much different brand of person. Thankfully, he and Selene had gone through this before, and he didn't hold her opinions of the people he slept with with much important.
She was free to her opinions and he didn't expect her to not have them.
"Could be. Though I suppose he might not be so inclined to jump into Cassidy's mouth again. Considering... If he even remembers, we'll see." He hadn't thought about bite bunnies in a long time and really, it was a viable option.
He chuckled at her quip, fliching playfully a little at her poking finger. "Had I a home that was my own, I might. Don't tell me you haven't gone out and sampled the wares. Even on a good day?"
She was free to her opinions and he didn't expect her to not have them.
"Could be. Though I suppose he might not be so inclined to jump into Cassidy's mouth again. Considering... If he even remembers, we'll see." He hadn't thought about bite bunnies in a long time and really, it was a viable option.
He chuckled at her quip, fliching playfully a little at her poking finger. "Had I a home that was my own, I might. Don't tell me you haven't gone out and sampled the wares. Even on a good day?"
"It's only you, me and Cassidy who are vampires, right? So that means we don't have to worry about anyone else with fangs making the same mistake?" She's not too worried about herself. She doesn't go out too often and her blood partners are the people she paid. Unless he was moonlighting as a whore, she didn't expect to actually run into him.
Her opinions used to be a lot more harsh, born out of jealousy and frustration. Time tempered much of that and she was simply glad to be around Matt, comfortable with her place in his life.
"Eh, not so much." Considering the sort of woman she was in her younger years, it would come as a surprise. "I'm not really social anymore. I don't like strangers." Which she knew came from her experience in the compound. It was hard to say who she could trust and who might try to hurt her again. She didn't want to take the risk.
"I don't like leaving my room very much."
Her opinions used to be a lot more harsh, born out of jealousy and frustration. Time tempered much of that and she was simply glad to be around Matt, comfortable with her place in his life.
"Eh, not so much." Considering the sort of woman she was in her younger years, it would come as a surprise. "I'm not really social anymore. I don't like strangers." Which she knew came from her experience in the compound. It was hard to say who she could trust and who might try to hurt her again. She didn't want to take the risk.
"I don't like leaving my room very much."
"Seras as well, but I think her sexuality saves her the hardest options provided." It put Airy right out of the running and Matthew hadn't asked about Seras's mechanics much yet. Distractions were always abound.
It was nice to be able to brush closely past the reality they were in; Matthew was what he was and without the stress of her reaction, he was easier and less defensive about it.
"Selene," he said with a gentle admonishment and a worried look. "You should try. These people are.. largely harmless. Even if you don't fuck them, go and see the souls that surround us. There are people we've never seen here, personalities and skills. It's not a big wide world, but the population isn't bad."
It was nice to be able to brush closely past the reality they were in; Matthew was what he was and without the stress of her reaction, he was easier and less defensive about it.
"Selene," he said with a gentle admonishment and a worried look. "You should try. These people are.. largely harmless. Even if you don't fuck them, go and see the souls that surround us. There are people we've never seen here, personalities and skills. It's not a big wide world, but the population isn't bad."
"Oh. Good for her. Looks like the women are going to have it easier here than you men." Which she'll be endlessly amused by. Matt, she could see getting into trouble. That was just how he lived. Cassidy was the one who surprised her.
"I don't like people the same way I used to, Matthew." She answered, leaning back against the pillows as her hair fanned out under her. A small trail of smoke curled towards the ceiling. If it weren't for this, she might feel panic rising at the back of her neck.
"When there are too many around, I start feeling like they're going to jump me again and I'll be back in the compound. I don't have my strength here. I can't defend myself like I used to." Not that it helped when it counted.
"I don't like people the same way I used to, Matthew." She answered, leaning back against the pillows as her hair fanned out under her. A small trail of smoke curled towards the ceiling. If it weren't for this, she might feel panic rising at the back of her neck.
"When there are too many around, I start feeling like they're going to jump me again and I'll be back in the compound. I don't have my strength here. I can't defend myself like I used to." Not that it helped when it counted.
"Perhaps so," he conceded with a quirk of his lips but she wasn't wrong about him. Trouble found him more often then not, though it was unadmittedly through his own folly or misstep.
"I fear you're going to lose your mind in here," he replied seriously, mirth slipping away. "You said yourself that they're meant to feed us - at some point you will have to learn. They are all around. They can't truly be avoided."
"I fear you're going to lose your mind in here," he replied seriously, mirth slipping away. "You said yourself that they're meant to feed us - at some point you will have to learn. They are all around. They can't truly be avoided."
"You're saying that to a Malk? I already lost my mind a long time ago, amore." She gave a sharp laugh, coughing out a large puff of smoke. "What little I had left, they fucked with." She didn't talk about this much, that she was joking about it at all spoke of her trust in him.
Seeing him sober, growing serious in his concern for her, Selene let her defenses slip. "I know. I'm not...I just don't feel safe." Which was never going to change. Either she fought through that or she let it consume her. "I can do something on the network, but I don't know about crowds just yet."
Seeing him sober, growing serious in his concern for her, Selene let her defenses slip. "I know. I'm not...I just don't feel safe." Which was never going to change. Either she fought through that or she let it consume her. "I can do something on the network, but I don't know about crowds just yet."
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