Among the Gray Corps (Lupine)

[Lupine]

"And you blame me for enjoying the depressing."

Lupine shook his head. "Madame Raven, you find The Death Of Socrates depressing? I don't. I find it shows the bravery and conviction with which the man went to his death. As for the scream, it may or may not be a good painting, but from my view, it lacks something. Wolves are colorblind, remember. I have thusly never understood Van Goth. Nor have you, I imagine, but even my younger self found him wanting."

"And I am sorry to hear about what your powers entail. It seems that not all are as fortunate as me. I don't suppose there is some artifact or process capable of suppressing them? I doubt so, since you most likely will have found out by now. It is a shame."

Lupine stood up, picked up the bottle of wine in one hand and pressed the button for the valet. Just in time he remembered to take up his cane, and for a moment he looked even mildly embarrassed.

"James, could you take this bottle back. I have finished with it. Thank you."

Lupine walked to the bookshelf, searching for anything that caught his eye. While he searched he spoke. Madame Raven, do not refrain from singing. Bluntly, you need enjoyment. You are clearly uneasy in most situations not involving combat or items of a depressing nature. Please, do me a favor, and try. You managed to sing that little ditty under your breath without anything shattering. You do not have to openly show your emotions, but perhaps merely think differently."

Lupine found the book he was looking for, and took it out. It was The Diary Of Anne Frank.

"I read this for different reasons than most. For me it is a physiological study. And it shows how much I have changed from what I was. I used to be greatly affected by that book. So, you see, it is a study in my old self's mind as well. Know your enemy, as Sun Tzu said."

[whiteraven]

Raven nodded, she had not - infact - remembered that wolves were colorblind, but she was - if nothing else - a wonder at lying. "Nor do I?" she asked, curious by his interjection that she understand the artest. Far from taking offence, knowing his perspective about her would teach her more about him. Know your enemies.

Shrugging as if her powers meant next to nothing anymore when he brought them up, Raven shook her head. "I am content. I was raised to live this way - honestly if there were such an item I don't think I would take it. I wouldn't be able to understand myself anymore. Depressing or no - at least I know who I am."

Catching out of the corner of her eyes Lupine's partway failure to grab his cane, Raven watched him curiously. Now that it was brought to her attention, she was quite sure his limp was a fake. A very well acted one - but intentional none the less. When she was sure John was gone, she scrutinized him curiously.

"Why bother with the cane?" she asked - unusually bluntly. "Who are you hoping to fool? Who do you want to make the mistake of thinking you a weakling. I cannot see a fool working very long with yourself - or being quite worth the bother."

She watched him as he walked to the bookshelf weilding his cane expertly. "A person's personality is spurred by their past experiances. I was raised in the near isolation of the temples. The only people I saw were the monks. That is why I am uncomfortable in large groups - I've just never gotten used to them. She nodded slowly though, wondering just what she was agreeing to. "You've been good to me thus far - therefor I will attempt to appese you. Do not expect much though. In the end - it is simply a matter of preferances, after all."

When he pulled out a copy of The Diary Of Anne Franke, the teenager shuddered. She had been to the concentration camps - or their remainders - once before. The pure strength of the emotions that had once filled the came, terror, anger, pain; so strong were they that even in her time the empath had been overwhelmed. It was emberresing to remember that she had been incompassitated for almost half a day.

Raven looked at Lupine incredulusly at his reason's for reading it. "It's interesting that you consider who you were to be your enemy. That strikes me as a dangerous gane to play. How far can you really take that without crossing a line? Yet already I know you wouldn't. You study the mind of your childhood and use that as a basis for other people you see as similar." She looked at him sideways, "Am I right?"