<

You give yourself a once over. No burns or stabs or anything else. Your shoulder also healed alright. Though the pain still lingers... A dream's still a dream after all.

There's dried blood on your clothes and skin that makes your movements feel tight and sticky. Besides the mild discomfort, you're as good as it's going to get. Just hungry as a horse. Hopefully, there's an extra egg for you.



Hmm... From what you recall of last night, Eiko claimed she had little to no friends. Though if you went down a list, it had to be last night's recent squeeze... That rationality does little to curb your paranoia. Why have them stay the night when you've got some important planning to do? Dangerous planning? You might not be dead, but there's plenty of things you're useful for alive.


Yeah, you fucked that one up. You're not the most genuine, true, or honest person alive. The right words might rattle around in your head then tumble out wrong instead. Would it be a disservice to try and soften the words to Eiko?

And again, you weren't exactly thinking a partnership. You'd just be helping her out, get her an opportunity she wouldn't be able to otherwise. Once you've got the wings and got her hooked up with your modder, you can teach her a few basic spells, and she can fly away to greater heights. Staying with you-- especially partnering with you-- will just be a death sentence. You can pay your debt for her brother, but being tied down to you? That's something too big to ask...

ACHOOOOOOOO

Ooof. Felt your ribs rattle a bit with that one.

The voices in the kitchen go quiet too. Ah. Well. You were hoping to look presentable, but looks like you'll be meeting this stranger first.



You move to stand, gaze going up to the wolfkin just behind Eiko as they approach. A bigger one. More dog-like with thick white fur and patches of brown. The stranger gets a good look at you, head tilting as she sniffs the air in a.. greeting? You briefly feel self conscious. You must smell like shit.

After what must be a good whiff, her nose scrunches, expression flickering, then lighting in potent hostility. Her posture straightens up. Fur raising.

Oh? Alright then.

You smile back at her with just enough teeth to acknowledge her challenge. You don't know what the deal is, but you know not to back down.


If you left a trail, you sure as hell don't remember... Though going by rough estimation, the blood should've dried and stuck to you by the time you got to this general area. Whether it's yours or his that can be traced back, well, that's gonna' be a problem.

It dawns on you where her hostility's coming from. She must be a Bite. Inching farther from friend territory here.

"You're finally awake." Eiko eyes you, interrupting your thoughts, like she hasn't noticed the bomb about to drop.

Your gaze stays on the wolf ready to pounce. "Yeah, you've got my allergies acting up."



Before you both can flash your guns, Eiko turns to the stranger and scritches at her neck with an easy affection. The act catches the wolfkin by surprise, tail starting to wag, then flap at max speeds, sending you flying.

She follows the act with a soft tone, "Vi, I'm going to show him how to use the shower. Can you take care of the food, please?"

This "Vi" pauses, then nods, eyes going back to you briefly. Whatever she was going to do or say, she decides to hold back.

You also realize that "Vi" is wearing an apron too small on her frame, only hung around her neck with the ties loose at the sides. Nothing else under. Fur's useful for that, you guess.



Eiko smiles at her, then turns to walk with you to the bathroom. You almost want to protest, just so you can get a crumb of food in your stomach, but this is important. You can still feel the stranger's gaze as the light and the vent turn on. You close the bathroom door behind you.

Eiko's smile drops a second later as she whispers, not fully trusting the noise of the vent, "What happened to you last night?"

"Good mornin'." You take your time to lock the door, whispering back, "I was about to ask the same thing. Since when did you get a pet Bite? Doesn't seem like she knows what we're going to be up to."

Internally, you wince. You didn't want to start the conversation like this, especially with how you last spoke to her, but it comes out as it does.

Eiko crosses her arms. "I recruited her. Julien sent her to sniff around. It doesn't seem like he told her anything either, so I just... talked to her."

Your eyebrows raise. "Ah, the good ol' words and sex special. Is that enough of a leash? Cause' from what I was sensin', she was ready to tear my ass a new one."

Her face heats up, "You-- You don't exactly scream innocent. And I smell it on you too." Her eyes glance at the claw marks along the shoulder of your shirt. "I don't know who it was. But what did you do?"

Your mouth goes dry. There's lies itching in the back of your tongue. Some fantastical story. Some way of shielding your culpability.

"......"

A part of you recalls a vague resolution. "I killed a Bite in self defense, alright? I'm sorry. I needed information and I got some useful tools while I was out. I might've left a trail. I'm not sure, I was exhausted by that point."

Eiko stares, almost surprised by your admission, then bites her thumb as she quickly tries to assess the situation. "How late in the night did it happen? Were you seen? Was it just one?"

You explain as best as you can. Just around midnight. Lone dark alley. One wolf. No one else followed you after or seemed to care. Eiko reasons that if they could trace it back to you, they'd be at her door right now with guns or questions.

But there's always a possibility. Especially with one Bite you don't know just outside the door. You still can't bring yourself to fully trust Eiko, especially with how she dodges your questions just as much as you can dodge hers.

Do you:

>A)Continue Discussion w/ Eiko
>B)Include Vi in Discussion
>C)Talk to Vi Alone
>D)Flee from Apartment
>E)_____

>B)...