Home Again (Ren) - Henri's Penthouse

Methuselah Posts : 3256 Join date : 2010-10-23

Henrietta had set out a beautiful spread of wines, fruit, and cheeses in her living room. She had set the stage for a very civilized conversation. She wanted this to go well, wanted this time to be better than the last. She would never stop trying.

Methuselah Posts : 7609 Join date : 2010-03-22

It wasn't long before Ren rang the bell.

Methuselah Posts : 3256 Join date : 2010-10-23

Henri moved to open the door. She smiled when she saw Ren standing there, gesturing her inside.

"You don't have to knock, you know. That's why I gave you keys."

Methuselah Posts : 7609 Join date : 2010-03-22

She entered, a smile on her lips that didn't quite meet her eyes. "I know. I'm still getting used to it."

Methuselah Posts : 3256 Join date : 2010-10-23

Henri laughed as she closed the door, ushering Ren into the living room.

"So I guess I shouldn't ask your opinion on the colors for your room?"

Methuselah Posts : 7609 Join date : 2010-03-22

"Golden yellow, if you feel I need a place here."

Methuselah Posts : 3256 Join date : 2010-10-23

She chuckled.

"If I am offering you my place to go to ground, I am Parisian enough to give you your own room to do so in. Much more civilized than the couch, don't you think?"

Methuselah Posts : 7609 Join date : 2010-03-22

"It's a pretty comfy couch."

"Thank you, Henri."

Methuselah Posts : 3256 Join date : 2010-10-23

She sat down in one of the chairs, and gestured for Ren to take either the other chair or the couch.

"You are family. And it seems that being of a certain kind of honor in this town can be dangerous. So while I will help you to fly, as will Jim and Rai and I'm sure others, we all fully intend to catch you if you fall, and rip to pieces anything that you can't handle yourself."

Methuselah Posts : 7609 Join date : 2010-03-22

Ren settled gracefully into the other chair.

"I'm grateful for that." She hesitated. "I'm just worried I stepped on some toes with this Sam thing..." She had trouble getting the words out. "Scion's already asking questions. When he finds out it was me...." She was already beating herself up pretty bad.

Methuselah Posts : 3256 Join date : 2010-10-23

Henri nodded her understanding.

"It will be hard. But you will stand up to him as many times as it takes, and your family will stand behind you, to catch you if you fall, and to kick his ass if he pushes too hard."

She sighed and reached for a bottle of white wine.

"That is part of what I wanted to speak with you about tonight. But first, please, if you desire anything on the table before you, help yourself."

Methuselah Posts : 7609 Join date : 2010-03-22

She reached for a piece of cheese. She really had no appetite, but she didn't want to appear rude. "Thank you."

She waited for the questions to begin.

Methuselah Posts : 3256 Join date : 2010-10-23

Henri let the silence sit while she poured herself a glass of the white, then re-corked it and set it down. Then she leaned back in her chair and gazed across at Ren.

"Love, I see in you the will to better yourself. You came into this life a bounty hunter, and while that is a laudable occupation, I think you want something more. Something that will take just as much work as becoming a good bounty hunter takes. I would like to know what that is."

Methuselah Posts : 7609 Join date : 2010-03-22

Henri was likely going to think she was crazy. Most did. "Hand of God." She said softly.

Methuselah Posts : 3256 Join date : 2010-10-23

Apparently this was an expected answer. She didn't seem surprised in the least.

"I thought so. And Abraham is here to help you with this goal in mind?"

Methuselah Posts : 7609 Join date : 2010-03-22

"Yes. He said I have been watched. That the time was right for me to be approached."

Methuselah Posts : 3256 Join date : 2010-10-23

She nodded.

"Do you think he would be offended if someone else were to see to your physical training? I do not pretend to know anything about the path of God, but I do know much about how to protect and kill."

Methuselah Posts : 7609 Join date : 2010-03-22

"I can ask. Though I don't imagine that learning different forms will be an issue."

Methuselah Posts : 3256 Join date : 2010-10-23

She smiled.

"Would you be adverse being my student? I can offer you much more than merely physical training, and I doubt that any of it would conflict with what you need to become the Hand of God."

Methuselah Posts : 7609 Join date : 2010-03-22

"What will it cost me?" It certainly wasn't asked with any of the vitriol spewed by Sam. She was simply realistic, and liked to know what she was going to owe.

Methuselah Posts : 3256 Join date : 2010-10-23

She chuckled.

"Oh, you do know how our society works, don't you? What I would ask, you've already given me freely."

Methuselah Posts : 7609 Join date : 2010-03-22

"I know enough to know that very little comes for free." She gazed out the window for a moment. "What have I already given?"

Methuselah Posts : 3256 Join date : 2010-10-23

She smiled and took a sip of her wine before speaking.

"Your trust and loyalty."

Methuselah Posts : 7609 Join date : 2010-03-22

"My trust and loyalty are to Him first." Her eyes flicked up to the ceiling, indicating which 'him' she meant.

Methuselah Posts : 3256 Join date : 2010-10-23

She nodded with a smile.

"I would never think myself more than Him. Nor do I ask for your unquestioning loyalty. I trust you to know when to ask questions, and when to trust that I know what I am asking you to do."