Two Minds

The weather outside is frightful, but inside is so insightful.

Or so most would hope, given the location. It is guaranteed dry, shielded from the wind and rain beyoned, though warmth and/or coziness may be a matter of varied opinion. Amidst the quiet, Verna currently sits at one of the numerous tables, a short stack of materials nearby with one currently open and perused.

Amid the quiet occupants of the library, is Auranar. She has a tall stack of books on a range of topics piled into her arms as she searches for a table that is relitively clear enough to allow her to place them down. She spots Verna's table, and recognizing the other woman hesitates a moment before heading in that direction. Her low nod is somewhat hampered by her books, but she coughs quietly to draw attention to herself and peers over the top of her stack of reading materials. "Pardon... Might I join your table?"

Verna initially gestures to the remaining table with a gloved hand without glancing up. "You are welcome to-" When she does glance upwards, her words pause momentarily, "Please, by all means." She reaches to shift her stack of materials somewhat to facilitate the joining. "It has been some time."

Auranar gratefully begins moving in the moment that Verna indicates that it's alright, but doesn't miss the change in tone when Verna looks up. Her skin is too dark for her blush to show, but her embarrassment is clear nonetheless. She sets the books down gently and takes a grateful seat as she soothes her skirts down into place fairly close to Verna. "The hunting of a demon does tend to occupy one." She offers gently, sighing softly and beginning to arrange her books in the order that she wants them. "Perhaps too much of my time has been spent squirreled away in books, if it has been so long since others have seen me."

"Time spent gaining knowledge and understanding is not wasted," Vera offers her opinion, "though interaction with others is also worthwhile endeavor." After a slight pause, she adds, "Or so I have read." Given her deadpan tone, it could be a genuine statement, or dry humor. Perhaps both?

The supplied topic of what may occupy does draw a long exhale. "To hunt, to avoid, to expire to; all of these are rather occupying of time and thought, yes."

The elvish woman shudders at Verna's mention of 'expiring'. Looking down at the tabletop as though it holds very interesting information and then picking up one of her books rather determinedly. "Perhaps we could both do with a bit more socialization then." She offers, opening the book idly and pulling a notebook from the bottom of the pile so that she can take notes on what she finds therein. "What are you looking into currently?"

Verna's lips purse at the shudder. Though she does not look away when Auranar studies the table, the lingering eyes may not make anything less awkward. "My apologies. I did not intend to cause any discomfort."

She nods at the suggestion and accepts the shift in topic. "I am investigating the recent batch of similarly slain within the city. More specifically, possibilities of motive and purpose."

Auranar looks up from her book with some small surprise and looks at Verna. "The demon? Or some other thing haunting the streets of this city you think?" She looks worried by her own words.

"A strong possibility exists that the answer is both of those," Verna answers flatly, "as unpleasant as that is. The evidence heavily favors vampirism, given the victims were exsanguinated. I further learned, on good authority, that a vampire is believed to be within the city at present. One that may well be associated with the fiend."

Not immune to the wholly non-reassuring nature of this, she takes a moment to doff her hood if just to make the bridge of her nose more accessible to pinch with gloved fingers. "Given that, I do not wish to discount other possibilities. Efforts were made to disguise the true cause of death and the victims seem rather selectively chosen... and yet the remains were left to be discovered. If a sly undead wished to conceal its presence, it could more easily hide the remains."

"Then why leave them out in the open?" Questions Auranar. "If hiding the bodies would be so easy for an undead creature... why leave evidence of its crimes to be found? Is it trying to threaten someone? Is it trying to send a message?" She has a certain level of fury growing in her voice. "These evil things think that the city and its people will just sit back and let these things happen!"

Verna lowers her hand and nods. "Indeed. Why? A vampire feeds to exist. It is possible one might develop a preference for one victim over another beyond convenience, but this seems unusual. Demons, conversely, are typically agents of chaos, and compelled to cause such things. Confusion, fear, and distrust, for example."

At Auranar's growing ire and perhaps volume, she makes a lowering gesture with her hand. "No, they will not be allowed to continue," she assures firmly. "An understanding of the underlying motive will facilitate a more swift and certain halt to the murders."

The elvish woman calms herself with some effort and bites her lip in an effort to still her tongue lest she lose control of it again. She presses her lips together firmly and then nods after a moment. "Perhaps the demon is setting the vampire up perhaps? I can not imagine _why_ such a thing would happen, particularly if they are working together but..." She shrugs. "The motives of such as demons is often beyond mortal understanding."

Verna observes Auranar as she calms, or at least limits herself, lip biting and/or pressing included. She then admits, "Perhaps beyond our understanding, perhaps not. We only need discern enough of motive to find a pattern or probable targets or locations to best halt the problem. There are several general theories which I currently aim to prove, disprove, or establish an order of likelihood. If we cannot be certain, a ... best guess may be necessary." Not her preferred option, judging by the pressing of her own lips.

Auranar sighs and nods, setting aside her own book. "Perhaps I can aid you then. My own research is... Not coming apace and seems entirely fruitless so... perhaps aiding in yours might be of some use?"

Verna's brows lift slightly. "You are welcome to, if you are so inclined. It is something that affects us all, obviously." A slight pause before she adds, "You are under no obligation, however. I am well aware that the topic and the context are ... unpleasant."

Perhaps to offer a brief segue to something less so, she asks, "Might I inquire as to your research? I may be able to reciprocate and offer some aid with your own interests."

"Topic being unpleasant or not... I'll do what I can to help." Auranar glances toward her own books and sighs. "I've been doing specific research into Eclavdran. Trying to uncover his abilities, his... foilables. Any weaknesses he might have, being a demon or otherwise. Yet everything I find just leads me to more questions."

Verna nods in acknowledgement, to both Auranar and her books. "I presume that he possesses all of the strengths and weaknesses of a demon of his ilk, though possibly more abilities in addition due to his standing. A better understanding of him, as an individual: history, motives, goals... these would be more powerful influences against him."

A sigh of her own. "Such are also the most difficult to determine. I believe that the recurring effigy used in his name may be one such clue, but my prior research only reached so far. Another task on the list to revisit."

"Some of it is easy enough to understand, but the rest is layered in mystery and convoluted ties to a world I have no desire to traffic in. More than once I have thought that a contact with the Hells would have the knowledge I seek but... At what cost? It's a price I am unwilling to pay." Auranar looks at her books thoughtfully and shakes her head once again. "It doesn't help that I've been so caught up in my own research that I've hardly had the time to talk to anyone else and find out if _they_ have learned anything of interest."

The elvish woman smiles thinly and looks at Verna. "Time I helped someone besides myself."

"Yes, I would strongly advise against trafficking with the Hells for information," Verna notes firmly. "Even were the edict not in place, I can assure you that doing so is far less informative than it is dangerous."

Her lips move anew at Auranar's latter comments, yet ... upwards? Not quite a smile, but in that direction. "Agreed. In that knowledge should be shared," she clarifies, "and coordinated. If half followed one course and half another, even if either were a solution, we would face the crisis at half strength in two confrontations. Better that we are more unified, especially in the context of this adversary."

Auranar nods seriously. Summoning such evil was never _really_ an option, but it did - as it was meant to - have a certain allure to it. Better to avoid such entirely. "Yes, best that we are unified. Now, where were you in your research?" Aurarnar leans forward, her notes at the ready, her attention on Verna's books and what they might discover together with their combined effort. Two minds were after all, better than one.

-End