2018.12.03: Tessa Found

Tessa Found
Maksim finds Tessa upstate and brings her home to find out if she really is a lost cub.
IC Date	Monday, December 3rd
IC Time	19:08:13 2018, PDT.
Players	Maksim, Tessa, Skully, Ildar
Location	Pennington Towers South Penthouse
Spheres	Shifter, Garou, Gaian

---

Maksim gets up at the knock and he walks over to the door. There is a peephole and he confirms who it is before he opens the door. He's always so careful. He steps back to allow the pair to enter. "Greetings!" he says in a decently thick Russian accent. "I am Maksim Zukov, cousin to Dragomir Mihaelovich. Please enter my home."

"Thank you kindly," comes the folksy, baritone rumble of Skully, sounding every bit like Baloo from the Jungle Book. The simply MASSIVE man ducks under the door frame to step inside, offering a huge hand for Maksim to shake. "Evan James Pridemore II Weathers-the-Storm, Fostern Metis Wanin' Ya'pahe Full Moon'a the Wendigo, Alpha'a Kandula's Hope under mighty Mammoth, an' Den Father'a the Sept'a the Endurin' Spirit. Gentleman behind me's with me but can make his own introductions."

The seven-foot-three goliath steps aside, smiling cheerfully, and hooks his thumbs through his belt loops. "Heard as you got a bit of a situation I should see to, so I come runnin'. 'Preciate you let us know."

Ildar was waiting.. well.. behind Skully. There wasn't a lot of space in the hallway to be elsewhere, afterall. He perks a little at hearing Maksim's introduction and steps in behind Skully. Looking up at him, he smiles with a nod, then looks to Maksim and Tessa. "I am Ildar Solokov, Grandfather was known as Fights-the-Dark, Great great grandfather was Fangs-of-Justice. Great great great Grandmother was Luna's Claws. Rite-name Honor's Keeper, Cliath, Silver Fang Ahroun, homid and part of the Sept of the Enduring Spirit." He nods then. "It's a pleasure to meet you both."

Maksim going to the door interrupts dinner plans. That doesn't seem to bother Tessa really as she turns back to the television a moment. She reaches for the remote to shut off the machine and then stands, turning to see what is happening at the door. The wordy introductions get a strange look, but even that comes after the 'h-o-l-y shit' look that finds her eyes at the size of Skully. Not prone to stare, she manages to blink and shakes her head once. Getting herself back to here and now. For the moment she lets the couch remain between her and the other three, curious hard to miss.

Maksim's scent fills the room once the two gentlemen enter. Maksim just REEKS of Pure Breed. It comes off him in waves. No ring blocking the scent here. He steps back and closes the door as they enter and then takes them into the main part of the room. "I found Tessa up in a little town near the Sierra Nevadas. I will allow her to speak of her own story, but one of the first things she said to me, was a comment on how I smell. How she had never smelled anything like it before." That will likely mean something to the two garou considering his scent. "It is my honor to meet you both." He bows a little. "Tessa," he turns to offer his hand to her. "These gentleman have responded to my call to come and see if they can help you to know what happened that night before I met you."

Skully's used to odd looks, and doesn't blink an eye -- well, he only /has/ one eye, but still, he doesn't blink it -- and bows his head to Tessa, giving her a friendly grin that somewhat-ameliorates the fact that he's a goddamn behemoth. "Pleasure to meet you, Miz Tessa. You can call me Skully. From what I hear, yours is a story I done heard a time or two in my day; likely sounds awful familiar to Ildar, as well. You mind if the two of us sit an' have a bit of a chat? I promise we ain't no danger to you, ma'am; jus' concerned friends."

Ildar shifts on his feet as he looks between Maksim and Tessa. Glancing up at Skully, he nods a little then looks back to the other two. "I'm here with Skully. Although it's always good to meet more Silver Fangs.. So I'm happy to meet you both. I'm interesting in listening if you're willing to share?"

Tessa listens to the big man and manages a little smile,"OK." She glance to Ildar, giving him a longer consideration. Something about him holding her attention. Not quite as over the top as Maksim, but there none the less. She considers for a moment and nod to them both,"OK. I have to warn you, my story isn't all that glamorous." She takes a seat on the couch again, turning a little to be able to talk to them all easier,"My life was pretty run of the mill. My parents were separated early in life, though I think my mother died long before I was told. My dad doted on me, took care of me, but we never had a lot." She takes a breath and lets it out slowly,"Not quite two years ago he was in an accident. No mom, no grandparents, and no money. I ended up on the streets." She shrugs a bit, apparently having gotten accustomed to that part of the story,"A few nights back...I don't know. My memories are beyond fuzzy. I thought I had been drugged, but no evidence of that. I woke up covered in blood and naked." She shrugs and even shakes her head a moment,"I've never been terribly shy, but that was a bit much. I stole some clothes off a clothesline of all things and tried to get cleaned up. Maksim found me later that day."

Skully moves to take a seat, motioning Ildar to follow after him. He sits carefully, mindful of his size, and rests his elbows on his knees, folding his hands together and listening. He nods at familiar details, looking aside at Ildar at the mention of living on the streets, and when the tale is done he makes an understanding 'mmmm' and considers. "So. That's your experience, an' it's a story I've heard a time or two. What've you learnt since then? How much has been explained to you?"

Ildar nods slightly and follows suit. Sitting down as he frowns a moment. There's a small start in Ildar at the mention of being on the street, with him staring hard at her for a moment. Finally, he shifts slightly in his own seat, looking away with a small frown.

Tessa considers them both for a long moment and she replies finally,"Not a lot. Just that he knew some people that could help me." She looks from one to the other. If she catches on to Ildar's reaction to her homeless time, she doesn't indicate it. She looks to Maksim and smiles at him a second and then back to Skully and Ildar,"Other than that, he's been taking care of me, making sure I didn't want for anything, and seems very careful about anything causing me even the slightest annoyance. As he said, you are the ones that he mentioned would be coming to talk to me and here we are."

Maksim stands to the side, ready to get anything if needed. It's obvious by his body language that he respects Skully and Ildar and holds them in high regard. "I had to be sure before I divulged anything. I have no way of telling, as you two do," he explains. "If she is as I thought, then I will--of course--divulge anything you give me leave to."

"She is, at that," Skully confirms for Maksim with a nod of his head, looking back to Tessa seriously. "So now, at least, you know there's more to the story than you been told. Way'a the world, I guess; always some new layer'a truth to hear, some missin' piece turns out to have other missin' pieces to it, too. So what I'm gonna tell you now, I want you to hear clearly; it's important to be sure you're takin' me deadly serious, all right?"

The big brute rolls his shoulders, taking a deep breath, and begins. "As you likely discovered when your life got upended an' dropped you on the streets, the world's a stranger, harsher place'n most folks comprehend. People don't see that side'a things too often; you have. An' what I'm about to explain to you is that the rabbit hole goes a lot deeper'n that, an' you're about to hear a lot'a things that'll sound ridiculous, like outta fairy tales or ghost stories. An' what I'm sayin' right now is... ain't no one here havin' a joke at your expense. Both Ildar an' Maksim'll confirm everythin' I say is provably true. So... do I have your attention, ma'am? You ready to hear some truths?"

Ildar glances to Maksim and nods a little, then looks first at Skully, then over to Tessa. "I was on the streets for 9 years.. I.. Skully will tell you what you need to hear. I'll share my story when he's done. Please.. be very aware this is all true.. and we're all very serious."

Tessa turns a little more towards the both of them. Their comments getting a rather dubious look, but she makes it pass as she tries to wrap her head around suggestions,"There were a lot of strange things on the streets. People disappeared regularly." she admits softly. She turns her attention towards each one in turn and then back to Ildar,"It is good to meet you lost brother. I am glad you are well." She turns her attention towards Skully and replies,"You had my attention when you arrived. You have it all now yes. Go easy on me. I have a hard time trusting and you are sounding like you are about to try and blow my mind."

Maksim glances at Tessa and then back to the other two. "If you have any trust in me after this week or so, Tessa, please suspend disbelief for a bit and hear them out," he asks gently, giving her a little crooked smile.

"If all I'd wanted to do was blow your mind I'd say 'yeah, homeless folks get taken by vampires a lot' an' leave it at that, like it was some sort'a common knowledge," Skully replies flatly, eye thinning as he regards Tessa. "Thing is, where we're from? That's /exactly true/. Kind'a shit you're about to hear? They don't make a red pill for that."

The giant squares his shoulders, and begins bluntly, "Plain an' simple fact is this. The reason you ain't remember what happened rightly an' woke up naked with blood an' such on you is on account'a that night somethin' in you woke up, an' it was a wolf, an' it wanted to hunt. You probably heard tales your whole life about werewolves howlin' at the full moon an' terrorizin' the countryside, an' the very idea sounds like a dumb horror film with bad special effects an' cheesy actin'. Truth of it is, them stories is based on facts so old folks ain't even remember they know 'em; it's a deep-down terror they keep tellin' in folklore an' comic books an' never stop tellin' one way or the other because somewhere inside, somethin's tellin' 'em /it's true/. An' you done punched through the other side'a that fairy tale an' found yourself among the wolves; not because you got bit or suffered some witch's curse, but because you've /always/ been one, an' it was jus' a matter'a time a'fore it came out. An' I'm tellin' you this now because it's true'a me, as well, an' Ildar, too. Maksim ain't called us out here on account we're paranormal experts or exorcists; he called us on account we're /just like you/."

Ildar nods quietly, listening and watching as Skully explains. When he pauses, Ildar speaks up. "About 5 months ago, I had a similar situation. Only for me.. I was seeking to help two women who had a couple of men trap them in a dead end alley, wanting to do bad things to them." Ildar frowns, hands balling into fists in his lap. "I told them to stop.. They pointed a gun at me.. and I didn't slow down.. They shot me." He looks up at Tess then, staring her eye to eye as he'd tap high on the right side of his chest. "Right here. I should of been dead.. I saw red.. and then I don't remember much until later.." He drops his hand, shaking his head. "I came.. aware.. again.. naked. Covered in blood. Chunks of the guys were all over.. The women were passed out and I was buck ass naked. I ran. Like you did.. Only I didn't have someone find me until a few months later."

Maksim is mostly quiet, though moving to stand behind Tessa. He's quiet, but being very much a supportive influence and is there in case she needs anything. "I have not been called. I am not like all of you, though the same blood runs in my veins. That is what you sensed about me from the beginning. The blood tells."

Tessa turns her attention towards Maksim a moment and offers him a smile,"If I didn't trust you I wouldn't have slept in your home all these nights." she assures him softly. She turns her attention towards the big man and starts to listen to him talk. Her brow furrows as he begins to explain the situation.

She moves her attention back towards Maksim as he moves a she seems to get some comfort from his closeness. She looks at the big man again, not answering for now. She looks at Ildar, listening to him recount his own story. She looks...well hesitant and uncertain to say the least. She finally asks,"I am guessing there is no scar?" If nothing else she is forthright and to the point. It is impossible to miss a hint of distrust and even harder to miss her hands that absently shake. She finally catches onto that and plants them in her lap. She looks around to each one and finally says,"There are whispers about monsters in the dark, but I always chalked them up as fairy tales. Stories told by crazies over the trash can fire to pass the time."

Ildar quite calmly takes off that shirt at Tessa's question. His entire body has faint scars all over, knives, bottles, bullets. He's been a fighter for 9 years and that body proves it. Dropping his shirt into his lap, it's easy to see the scar for the bullet hole. Only.. it looks different than the rest. Much more faded. As if a rapid healing started after it occurred, making it more of a mark, than a real scar. "When you shift.. your body goes into overdrive to heal things. I didn't shift.. I didn't do my first shift until after I got shot. That saved my life. But yes. It scarred."

"Crazies sometimes have a clarity of sight lacked by folks who already 'know better'," Skully replies with a shrug, "An' the homeless tend to take a lot less about the world for granted. Many of 'em are kin to us; particular numbers of our kind look after 'em. Not all of 'em -- ain't nearly enough of us for that -- but here an' there you likely ran into someone with a bit more knowledge'n they let on, warnin' 'bout spooks in the shadows an' leeches in the sewers, tryin'a spread word in a way other folk might catch on."

Skully sighs, steepling his fingers, and continues. "Somewhere down the line in your family history, either through your father -- or, sounds more likely, your mother -- someone in your ancestry was one of us. Folks say 'werewolf', but the word for it is /Garou/. We ain't made by magic or mischance; we're a breed apart, born amongst man an' wolf alike. Few in number, always hidden, passin' as that scary guy on the subway who just seems menacin' or that one homeless woman ain't nobody fucks with even though she looks like a scarecrow. We put off the normal folk on account'a the wolf inside, because'a that same ancestral memory what tells 'em to be afraid'a howls in the woods. We grow up, most of us, as normal humans -- or sometimes wolves -- an' somewhere along the line the spirit inside of us wakes up. Usually when we're young, but sometimes it takes awhile, 'specially if we done grown up away from others'a our own kind. An' when it happens, we Change, jus' like you did. You can't remember it because you wasn't ready for it to happen, an' your mind's tellin' you it was a bad dream, 'cept you can't explain away why you done torn outta your clothes an' run off like a wild animal. So here you are, after that harrowin' experience, an' we're here to tell you that it's the start'a somethin' profound what's gonna change the rest of your life, an' we're awful sorry, but you ain't got no say in the matter. Was decided for you the moment you drew breath."

Tessa reaches up with one hand and places it on Maksim's arm as she listens to what it being said. Maybe some part of her believes and another part is screaming at her to run. At any rate, she at least manages to listen to the first part,"I remember a few that way. None quite so big as you, but scary in their own right." she admits softly.

She turns her attention to the wounds on Ildar and her breath catches a moment. She finally nods and forces her eyes away from the damage on the man. She looks at Skully and asks,"OK. Let's say I believe you and I am still on the fence, though leaning your way." She considers again and asks,"Will I ever remember what happened? Should I be looking at the news where I am from to see if I did some damage?"

Ildar lets Tessa have her fill, then puts that shirt back on. He nods slowly. "now that you're aware.. You're aware. You learn to control it. Revel in it. You'll learn to fight.. a lot of things." He'd nod to Skully. "Skully is an amazing teacher.. trust me. I know. So you'll be able to learn and grow.. and become something due to this."

"My height... well. I'm a special case, ma'am, an' there'll be time to talk about that by an' by. You ain't gonna get the whole story in one night." Skully leans back, folding his hands in his lap, and relaxes some. "As for what happened... maybe. Maybe not. Might be it never comes to you, might be you eventually recall, but odds are it's gone. You can read the news if'n you truly wanna know, but it won't tell no story of a mad werewolf tearin' up the town. Likely it'd say 'wild dog attack' or 'bear loose in city limits' or somesuch. Folks... normal folks, they can't process us right. They go somewhere in their mind that explains us away, like they ain't seein' what they's seein', an' they remember things wrong. Truth gets buried deep an' forgotten." He sighs, shifting a bit, and continues. "All'a this... it's gonna take what life you done built yourself away from you, put it outta your hands, but... it gives, too. Purpose. Society. Somethin' to fight for. An' you'll learn all'a that, by an' by. I know Maksim done put you up here an' provided for you, but you're gonna come with us, to where we stay, so's we can keep an eye on you. World's a dangerous place for you right now; precarious an' overly stimulatin'. Right now you probably feel an anger, deep in your gut, like you ain't felt before. Not like you're mad about somethin', or lookin' to pick a fight, but a deep rage inside like a trapped animal. It's a great gift, a powerful one, but a very dangerous one 'til you know how to manage it, for you an' those 'round you. So you need to be among people who can manage that sort'a thing. An' jus' like we come here for you, to make sure you're seen to, sooner or later some bad folks might come lookin', as well. An' we can't let that happen. Too few of us left to let a single one fall. We'll take you to a safe place, where you'll have a place to stay an' food an' warmth an' protection, an' we'll see to your education. An' when you're ready, knowin' what you need to know an' gainin' a sense'a control over yourself an' the power you got inside you, you'll take your place amongst us, where you belong."