Back! What a trip!

[val_corax]

When I was travelling between New York and England, I spent some time in the Battleground and after that, the Dark Umbra. Neither place was all that pretty. But, I think going there was good for me, in both cases. The Battlegrounds are a nasty place all round and I got a real close up look at a couple of different types of War. They're not pretty. Not a single one of them - but, I think it was a good experience for me. With how Thomas goes on about the wars he has seen and whatnot, I was starting to wonder if my understanding of what war is was kinda skewed. Coming out of it, I don't think that it is. We just see it differently. To me, they are terribly sad things. People die. People die horribly. Young, old, strong, weak... Death is the ultimate equalizer. War is just an excuse for people to go killing eachother. They do it for pride, for territory, for wealth, and for power. In the end, one side is declared the winner. But, in truth, both sides loose in the end and war makes monsters out of normal people. Let people think they're in the right and you can get'em to do almost anything.

After that lovely depressing week of watching people slaughter eachother (and Storms-Shadow nattering on about strategy. War doesn't bother him at all, but that's a Stormcrow for you), I headed in to the Dark Umbra. Wouldn't have risked it without a Guide, or at least some serious backup. I was looking for someone in particular... So I could say I was sorry and goodbye... 

After three weeks in the Dark Umbra, it was nice to get out in to the Realm again. Even if it was England, with more rain than sun.



While I was in England, I followed up with some some contacts and had a good visit with some of the local Corax. Man, it was good to socialize with some other birds. Different group from the one I normally see at Council back home, so there was a hell of a lot less ribbing when it came to keeping Secrets - particularly about a certain Mage. But anyway, I had them give me the scoop on the local wolves. Made a point of telling them about Charley's dad and how much of an ASS the fellow is. I mean, come on. Who goes and shoots his own kid, then gets pissy at him for not turning in to a wolf? Some discussion happened and I have a feeling that Charley's dad is going to have a rough couple of weeks, as he becomes the focuses of the local Corax's jokes for the next little while. Heard one guy talking about getting a picture of him taking a dump and passing it around to the other locals. Even Kings must have their Throne.. Heh.

I did mention having a friend who was a Star Wars junkie and one of the locals pointed me at a fairly neat book along those lines. Picked it up and shipped it off to Nicodemus. The book was HUGE and holy crap, shipping was a bitch.  



When I popped back in to the Umbra from England, I went to Pangaea. Pretty place, in a mildly terrifying way. Spent lots and lots of time with my sketch book out. Collected some plant samples and some primitive dinosaur feathers while I was there. Archaeologists would KILL to get a look at this place. When I wasn't drawing, I was flying around as a Raven, with the human side of my brain turned off. I think... If Storm's-Shadow hadn't chewed me out near then end of my month there, I would have stayed longer. Pangaea is no place for humans and its easy to loose one's human-side there. 



Finally got to see one of the Beast Courts. It's different from back home. Lots of ritual and formalities. Managed to get in touch with a few local Tengu and we had a discussion about Kitsune in general. Thomas is SO not a typical Kitsune. Stayed just long enough to get a feel for the place and barter a deal with one of the local spirits. 



Got home and crashed hard. Apartment still seems to be in one piece. Woo! Got up with the sun and headed out to see what I could see. Spotted Nick by the fountain and dropped in to say hello. Man, it was good to see him again. Didn't get too far talking with him, as two unfamiliar faces showed up. Kitty and Baukhain. One ended up being a wolf and the other was a bloody TIGER? What the hell!?!? Still, she seemed nice enough. Even if she went and called Nicodemus, 'Nicky.' Which just isn't right. 

Ran in to Thomas a bit later in the day. He's still a grumpy-guts. Don't know where he gets off calling me smug. It's not my fault that I find him being an overly-sensitive grumpy-guts funny. Seems the Wolves are planning on going after some baby wasp-queen. Offered my help in that, but I really should go directly to Lefty at some point. I just really don't like going in to their homes... Makes me nervous. Thomas seems to know that Nick isn't quite what he seems. Sent him a warning, just in case. 

But, anyway. Went home with a large Garcia's pizza and at the whole damn thing. Oh dear god, my stomach...



Well, the new Tiger doesn't seem like a bad sort. There is something about her that is likeable, even if she is a bloody /cat/. For one, she laughed when I teased her. Which is a bonus. We had a nice little chat, even if most of it had to do with her asking questions as to how Corax work. 

She also said that she liked her guys big and dumb, of which Nick was neither. So I didn't have to worry about her infringing on my territory, so to speak. *blink* I mean, I like Nick...



Finally got to catch up with Nicodemus. He had a few stories to tell. Weird dreams, waking up in the Caern. Piggy-back crinos rides and plant with an eyeball. Weird. We also goofed off a fair bit and chit-chatted about the fact that Nick used to do the Goth thing and well, how entertaining it would have been to hang out with him as a Raven. Just because the Goths would be all swoony and well, it'd just be fun. 

It would be fun. I should talk him in to getting all Goth'd up and we should go out to one of the Goth club at some point. There have to be a few of them left in the city. Nick and I are both getting a bit old for the club scene, but I'll be a Raven and if I can talk Nick in to some white Gathesque face-paint, his age'll be harder to pin down. 

Quin showed up near the end of that convo. Seems that he has set up a primitive Forensics lab. Cool. Let him know that I was going to be leaving my job at the SCPD. I've attracted way to much damn attention, people are talking about me, and that's bad. Nick is going to hire me on as a PI in his business. Job should be a lot more flexible and enough to keep up with the bills. 


Heard about the Lucient Witness. Need to play with that Bauble.

It's good to be back. I've missed just shooting the shit with Nicodemus.