Preparing for Catastrophe

Aster and Kai catch up. Aster has questions about were-cats.

Date: 11/19/2018	Nancy Whiskey, Corktown There is nothing more quintessentially Detroit then some tiny joint on the corner with only a High Life sign and blinking light beckoning passersby to see if there is anyone inside. The interior space is compact, with barely any space to squeeze between the barstools and the tables, and is usually packed on weekends. The well kept secret of this little dive is that it's one of the best places in the Motor City for live blues music. During the week it's a laid back spot to hang out and linger over a drink, preferably a beer and a shot of whiskey. The light in the bar is dim, with bright spots here and there provided by the glow of televisions set at each upper corner that broadcast the current sporting event, especially if it features one of Detroit's home teams. The wooden bar runs the length of the left wall and behind it are an insanely large number of beer tap handles protruding upwards amidst the liquor bottles that line the back shelf. The wooden floors are polished but worn, showing grooves along the major traffic areas. Several tables have been spaced along the wall opposite the bar beneath mirrors bearing the names of popular beers. A squared off arch separates the pool tables from the main bar and a set of wooden stairs near the door leads to the second story.
Cast: Aster Kai
Kai may have suggested Nancy Whiskey because she was already here: so says the lazy sprawl across two chairs at one of the tables along the far wall, where she sits alone. Also the empty on the table, the fresh drink perhaps incoming. She worries at a stone in her hand, head deeply tilted to one side, not paying anything much attention right now to all appearances. Aster had sent the vague 'we should talk' text some time ago, so her first response to the suggestion of Nancy Whiskey is a bit... pleasantly surprised. > Oh hey > You're not dead > Good to know! Soon after, Aster arrives at the bar, dressed in her usual heavy, neutral-coloured coat. She passes by the bar to order something -- naturally whiskey, but neat to be specific. Rather than interrupt Kai's focus, she simply invites herself to a seat at the table. Kai looks up, but maintains the general posture - deeply slouchy, tilty, quiet. "Hey," she greets Aster, when she sits. "I lost my phone. If I just don't answer, that's - way likelier than dead. Unless there's been a fire or something." She smiles. Aster happens to be sipping her whiskey when Kai greets her, but she sets the glass down soon and offers a "Hi," in return. She gives Kai a bewildered look at the thought of /losing/ her phone, as if she's suggested she could just walk away and leave her right arm draped over the table. "...I'll remember that," she says. "But hey. Fire, massive wild boars, serial killers, texty ghosts... all kinds of things could happen in a city like this, y'know? How's tricks on your end?" She rubs one of her eyes, under the lens of her glasses. She looks tired, as if she'd had a long night just before. "Nnn," Kai says. "I ran into the boars awhile back. Took one down, but got a tusk through my thigh for it." She smiles. And looks... you know, intact. #Verbenalife. "Haven't seen them in awhile. Maybe got... uh, sorted out." Aster shakes her head. "I... honestly don't know. I've kept away from all that because I am, uh, not suited to it." She holds up her arms. "You can't tell 'cause of the sleeves, but I've got, like, noodle arms. I'm more the type to investigate things for the people who /don't/ have noodles for arms." She glances about and lowers her voice. "Speaking of, that serial killer. I've heard you're, ah, aware of a were or two?" Meaning she has questions about shapeshifters. Kai's deeply tipped head tips deeply... the opposite direction. There's a deep possibility that she doesn't quite catch that pun, because she says - with the halting slowness of someone rewinding words - "...ah, yeah, I'm aware of a dude taking scalps, if..." she doesn't even have to finish with 'that's what you mean' for it to be clear - she's glancing up at the waitress, dropping off a glass with a twist of lime, giving her a smile. Aster smiles up at the waitress too, but she's fine with the glass she already has. "That's who I'm talking about, yeah. I've done some background investigation and come up with some answers and some more questions... though seems you feel this isn't the best place to talk openly?" Now, the look on Kai's face is rather unguarded confusion. "Uh, I... no? This place is fine. It's loud enough. I could be like, 'hey I did some ritual to call the Goddess of Death into my body the other day and now I have extra arms' and I don't think anyone would catch more than two words." Aster whews, nodding. "Okay. People seem to have different sensitivities to that. Guess I'm just used to how guarded my mentor is -- I was pretty surprised the first time Emma spoke /not/ in code in a place like this." She clears her throat. "So, long story medium. That's a pun and you'll see why. See, Alma did some necromancy to learn more about the killer, and got in contact with Jessica Plainview, the killer's mother. Arthur and I did some further digging, and found that the killer's name is Michael. Michael Long-Claws, for his father. And Wednesday, I believe, said he was like a big cat when he found the most recent victim. So, the number one question is..." She sips her whiskey. "...are 'big cat' shapeshifters a thing, like wolves are?" Kai's brows draw, then one eye closes, then opens again. "I mean, 'like wolves' is sort of -" she lifts her shoulders. "I've known all kinds of shapeshifters, all kinds of animals. I've /done/ it. Shapeshifted. So. Yes? No? There are people who turn into big cats. I... would be careful about comparing any two shapeshifting people you meet. At all." Aster shakes her head, shivering. "I've seen enough from shapeshifters to know that it'd be dangerous for me to meet them in the first place. That may sound racist, but when someone literally has the inborn ability to tear my head off such that I can't do anything about it..." She shakes her head again. Kai smiles at that. "Have a noodle-neck, too?" The smile fades, then she shakes her head. "I'm not gonna disagree with you," she adds. "At all. I've seen the toughest, biggest of them. Threw a fucking dear at me." She laughs. "/I/ should... probably not wind up in that situation either, if I can help it." Something in her easy posture suggests that her stated standoffishness is not a position strongly held. "Just a deer, huh?" Aster gives a wry smile. "From what I saw, I was expecting something more like a helicopter. Or at least a helicopter's rudder, after ripping it clean off." She sighs. "So... short answer is yes, there are people who can morph into massive, scary, raw-force-of-destructive-nature big cats?" Kai shrugs, nods easily. "Sure. They exist." She smiles briefly, then has a drink, finally. When she puts her glass back down, her mouth is pinched, like her brows are drawn. "I joke, but the deer - that was nothing. I've had that fury pointed my way, /really/ pointed my way. I don't have noodle arms, Aster. And she would have killed me anyway, if she'd connected even once. Killed me in a single strike and left nothing a bloody pile somewhere for someone to find. If you think you're putting yourself in a position to make one of them angry, don't do that. Go back in time to not do the six things BEFORE that thing. You know?" Aster nods, her arms drawing around herself, a slightly haunted look in her eyes. "I hear that. I mean, I've never been in person with one while they're... going off, but I have seen it. They were /on my side/ and that didn't make it any less terrifying. Like... I know they're not /bad/, but they're dangerous and not always in control. So it's safer to just... not even be close. But on the other hand..." She sighs. "Serial killer. People are going to keep dying if /this/ one isn't stopped. I'm not planning to chase it myself; I'm just trying to get every bit of information I can, anything to give the others an edge." Kai's tongue finds its way between her teeth, and she bites down on it lightly, glancing past Aster to the bar. Her eyes find their way back, and she considers. "If you want to figure out a cat, figure out - cats. You know? Think about them. If you think there'll be a confrontation, go armed with dominance, fire, or a way out they can't follow. That /isn't/ the spirit world, if that's... a thing." A pause, then: "Don't expect all your magic to land, and don't expect that all they have to bring to a fight is claws. But mostly - I made it sound like /you/ shouldn't get wrapped up with it? But neither should anyone you named." She takes a deep breath. "I'll chase down what I can, ok? And text you when I know something." Aster chews the edge of her tongue. "Because of course they bring more to a fight than overwhelming force, as if they didn't have enough of that..." She sighs, shaking her head. "I know, and I can't ask people to get involved in this. But you and I both know some of ours will get involved anyway -- and can probably name at least two who will -- so the better-equipped they are with knowledge, the better chance /they/ have. And with that, the better the chances of the people this kitty would otherwise keep killing. So... figure out cats. Big, wild cats. Lions and tigers, but not bears, oh my." She tilts her head. "...spirit stuff is big for them, then?" Yes, she's still wringing out every big of information she can. Kai definitely shows reluctance in the slowness of her shrug. "I... don't know. Maybe. Definitely /some/ of them. I don't know if it's /all/ of them, or is different by... species or breed or any other fucking thing, really. Shapeshifters in general, I mean. I knew one, talked about spirits a lot. I think that's why Maya thinks she can..." she breaks off, waves a hand vaguely. "Doesn't matter. But I don't have any... how different are we, Aster? I don't have any idea if... they're all... you know? As different as we are?" Aster wrinkles her nose, head nodding. "That's a good point. I mean, I don't think any two of us really agree on, well... anything." She sighs, shaking her head. "Like me. Too mystic for the technomancers, too technomantic for the mystics, you know? I don't flinch at calling it 'magic', but I /do/ use a smartphone to do it." She shakes her head. "Well... thanks. For talking, telling me what you know right now, all that." She's almost finished her whiskey by now, so she drops the rest in one heavy, burning sip. "...so glad it's not too long to walk. I'll catch you around." Kai gives her a chin. "Uh-huh." A beat, then: "I'll be in touch."