Never Revealing Secrets

Summer 2021, Week 5

Wednesday morning

Sorin Fionn Apartment, Old Towne

Sorin Fionn

Everything seemed to move in slow motion around him as he made his way through the front doors of the apartment complex that was, evidently, where he called home. Wearing the washed outfit Tobias brought him just yesterday, he pulls the keys from his pocket and tries one that had a pointed tooth at the end, and luckily found it was the right one. Huh. Seems almost unnatural. He thinks as he opens the door quickly, and checks the signs to find that his apartment was on the third floor, off to the side.

[Enh.| Enhanced Speed, Basic x1, -0EP (25/25)]

[Ind.| Supernatural Luck, Basic x1, -0EP (10/10)]

  He tries the other large key, seeing as the first opened the front door and there was just the deadbolt left, and it fits like a glove as he unlocks the front door. Almost immediately he is greeted with a trilling black cat rubbing against his legs, as if to tell him that she missed her boy.   "D'aww, aren't ye a sweetie? C'mon, let's head inside." He stoops to give the cat, that he saw in pictures on his phone with the common word being "Hex" among their names, a thorough round of scritches behind her ears.  

Layla

Though the cat wasn't the only lady waiting for Sorin's return. She waited quietly, sitting on the sofa as he made his way inside the apartment.   Resisting the urge to punch him square across the jaw, she almost too calmly tells him "You're a right gobshite. Ya know that, aye?" Standing up to greet her 'Marsh brother', she adds "Terry forgives ya, too.. but I'm guessin' ye don't remember either of us, aye?"  

Sorin Fionn

He is surprised to see someone in the home, but recognizes her from some of his phone's pictures, mostly of her and him in various locations. "Aye, I.. haven't much of a clue. But I'm guessin' ye must be th' Layla I've heard a bit about."  

Layla

She maintains her stern composure as she walks toward him, replying coolly "That's me. The one that took care o' th' house an' cat while ye were away." Stopping just in front of him, she can't hold back the frustration caused by worry and socks him in the shoulder, just hard enough to leave him with a sore reminder.   "That's fer bein' an idiot, pickin' fights an' leavin' us at th' site on Saturday." Before Sorin could respond beyond the initial natural reaction of being hit in the shoulder, she wraps him up in a hug and buries her face in his shoulder. "An' this is ta remind ye that I still love ya, even if yer a dumbass."  

Sorin Fionn

The punch, although surprising, could have easily been avoided. But.. something within him caused him to stand there and take it. Maybe he felt he deserved it, deep down. Maybe he knew she needed to vent frustration.   Heavens above, it smarted regardless.   But then came the hug. It was simultaneously comforting and surprising, leaving him speechless as he slowly and awkwardly returned the hug, feeling in his foggy mind that this was weird, but in his heart he wanted to reassure her that he was okay.  

Layla

She breaks away after a moment and says with a grin "First thing ta re-learn about me: I'm not a caretaker. I only was able ta do so because ya were lucky I was finished packin' fer Stanford an' ma flight was delayed."  

Sorin Fionn

His heart felt like stopping for a little bit, with no real reason why in his mind. Isn't it a good thing? What's a Stanford? His thoughts reflexively put a confused look on his face.  

Layla

Recognizing that look on his face, she tries to clarify some things. "Stanford is th' school I'll be headed to, across th' country. I'll be studyin' ta become a lawyer extraordinaire, hopefully more in defense of people like yerself."  

Sorin Fionn

The look of confusion dissipates as he feels a swell of pride for her, accompanied with the melancholy feeling that just doesn't seem to fade as he listens to her speak.   "In defense of.. so ye know, too?" He asks quizzically. "Does.. anyone else know? Besides yerself?"  

Layla

"Jus' me an' Saint Marsh, 'less ye told someone else about it. I haven't told anyone, even Terry or th' others." She answers with a coy smile. "A magician an' their assistant never reveal their secrets."  

Storyteller

The two continue to talk well into the afternoon, Layla telling Sorin of their history together, good and bad. In time, they bid each other farewell, leaving him to mull over the wave of knowledge that was passed to him.