Driving up (Mal and Cass) - Malachi's Penthouse

Perhaps under normal circumstances, Cass would have relaxed at least a little at Charlie's touch. But the night had been anything but normal. She managed to squeeze Charlie's hand, but her grip wasn't tight. She still didn't know what to say, if anything. And even through pink tinged, glazed over eyes, she appeared to have a very guilty look.

Letting the boys talk seemed the better idea. Her mouth had done enough damage for one evening.

He held her still as he spoke. His voice was a little worried but there was a note of something else in it too.

"Actually, I think she was in shock at first, but as she thought about it, she has gotten worse. She needs support and to have people around her who will support her. She is..fragile right now. But certainly you understand."

His eyes met Charlie and there was suddenly iron in his voice.

"Hold her boy. Is it not obvious she needs you as a friend right now? Come on, this is not about anything but her."

His eyes and manner should have told the youth, right now Estaban was the only thing holding her up and there.

He hung up the phone and turned to face the three of them. It was rare to see anything other than good-natured cattiness in his face, though now he just looked ... irritated. He snapped at all three of them.

"Stop it. Oui, she has had a hard day and needs a friend, but she is not a delicate flower that will break under the strength of the wind. If she has concerns that she would be told to grow up, then it is treatment like this, like she is a child and an invalid that makes her think it is so. Both of you, let go of her."

Yes, the Toreador was annoyed. Rare to see.

"The problem is being handled by people who know more than we four how best to deal with the situation. Now, everyone have a drink, and explain to me what it is that you think," he pointed to Charlie, "that you can do for her that we have not? Other than the fact that she obviously shares a closeness with you that she does not hold for Estaban and I."

The youth seemed unaffected by both Estaban's and Mal's words. At the very least there was no change to his body language as he brushed his thumb across Cass' cheek before taking a step back, slipping his hands away from her, with the same relaxed posture as before.
Then again, while he might look like a push over, the youth was a Brujah, so if anything he was probably well used to tempers flaring even if his own seemed to remain neutral.

"Only thing I have to offer her is a place were she won't have to worry about appearances or what others might think of her. I am her friend, as you said, and as such my concern right now is her safety and well-being. -That- is why I came here" Charlie answered calmly. "Because believe it or not, when a friend, who I've promised I'd be there for, contacts me, scared out of their mind, I reckon it cause for concern"

Cass blinked. Charlie had let go and stepped back. It snapped her back to some semblance of reality. She still felt Estaban, she heard Mal. If her clanmate would now just let go... The door was so very, very close.

He sighed. Always the youth telling each other to grow up, be strong, be more. He knew she was strong enough, knew the could handle this, but also knew that sometimes support and help kept you strong. He had ignored what he had seen once before and had been reminded by his father about family responsibility. He was not going to fail any rose again.

He pulled her closer, enough to get a little squeak and then whispered in her ear lightly, before loosening his grip. Not letting go, just loosening.

"Down Malachi. He's here because she called him. And I am holding her because her family in the past gave her good reason to run. Even though she knows we are not them... old habits rise in times of stress. And you have to admit, this has been a stressful night for her."

She did squeak, like a little mouse. But otherwise made no other sound, nor could she look any of them in the eye. Part of her didn't like being talked about like she wasn't there. But she wasn't really all there to begin with, was she? The other part of her just felt incredibly stupid. Nor did she like being the cause of someone else's annoyance.

Cass just stood there, her head leaned back onto Estaban as she listened.

His brows rose and he put a glass full of whiskey in front of Cassiel.

"Oui, I am aware. And I am taking care of the problem, am I not?"

He turned to Charlie.

"No offense, darling, but I highly doubt that. The manner of creature that is being dealt with cannot be contained by one such as yourself. This is not offensive, this is truth. She is better to stay with us here, since I will know in perhaps a few hours, how best to deal with such a creature. You are welcome to stay as well, of course, but there is little that I can do if I cannot be near her when I receive the call."

He turned back to Estaban.

"Letting her stand on her own two feet is not giving her a reason to run. I have not left her, I have not abandoned her. I have done more for her than likely anyone else put together already, for the simple reason that I know who to call to deal with the situation. Now let the girl have a drink, sit yourself down, have a drink yourself. And I will either call you or send for you once I hear back, no?"

He released her, letting her help herself to the whiskey. Lord knew he could grab her easily enough if he had to.

"Mal you are utterly indelicate tonight. I didnt say you have abandoned her. Merely mentioned old habits."

Whiskey... Charlie... Estaban... Mal... Door...

Her eyes darted repeatedly to each item and person in that order several times. She finally took the glass of whiskey in her hand and downed it quickly.

And then the order of her eyes darting around simply changed.

Door... Charlie... Mal... Estaban...

Door was winning. As was pacing-- like a caged animal ready to spring.

"Cassiel, please..?" he said gently, looking to Cassiel and offering her a soft smile. The unspoken question asking her if she would stay. For him.

Cass stopped and glanced at Charlie and after a moment, she nodded. She sat leaning forward with her elbows on her knees and biting her lip.

It was very, very odd to see Malachi looking annoyed.

"Delicacy is for situations of social parley and other such things. Perhaps you do not understand the magnitude of what manner of creature that we are dealing with, Estaban. Perhaps that is lost upon you in the dedication for social propriety that you always uphold. I don't care if I have offended you or anyone else in this room. I will not let her be taken by such a creature, and currently, I have the best way to keep her safe from it, your social delicacy be damned."

Ah yes, he was beginning to remember why he normally only kept to being around one Rose at the time. Still the youth kept up appearances, for now. No point pushing more buttons just for the Hell of it when really, all he wanted, was to be there for Cassiel.

So he let the two argue as they pleased. He wasn't there for them.

"Please... don't fight?"

A simple request. Stress was high enough without adding to it. And as annoyed as Mal seemed, it wasn't helping at all.

He reached forward, to pet her hair.

"Of course, darling. Nothing to worry yourself over."

He smiled softly at Cass and then amused at Mal.

"Of course, Cassiel. You think this is bad you should see him and me when he is pissy rather than worried."

"I'm sure I'll get the opportunity to see that eventually," she offered with a slight smile as she began biting nervously at her fingertips.

"I know I'm the odd one out right now" Charlie said as tempers at least seemed to cool a bit. "But right now all any of us is doing is waiting, right? So, since I really do believe Cass" he looked to her with a gentle smile, not wanting to talk over her head. "could use a bit of piece and quiet. And we're stuck until you get that call anyways" the youth looked to Mal.
"How about I take her home for a while. It's not far from here, I'll give you the address, she can have some hours to rest, and the moment you get that call we will either come here or you can come to my place. Family always wants what's best for each other, but sometimes you have to be able to look at things from the outside in to see what might actually be needed" Charlie said with a polite tone of voice which really did sound like he simply wished to do this for Cassiel. Meaning no offence by what he was saying.
"Please, Sir? If Cass agrees that is?"

Estaban raised an eyebrow but stayed quiet. He turned to see what Mal's reaction might be. Trying to take someone away from family in a time of stress was risky. But this was Mal's call.

Peace and quiet? That sounded perfect... For a moment, a hopeful look crossed her features, but she turned away and brought another cigarette to her lips, lighting it.

His brows rose and he gave Charlie a very, very cool look.

"That is her choice."

He didn't speak his thoughts. Which were that he was betting that Charlie didn't have the entire Tremere Clan at his back if needed. But he wouldn't press the issue.

Oh, she had a choice? Really? Her expression remained impassive as she took a drag off of the cigarette and exhaled the smoke slowly. It sure as hell didn't feel as if she had a choice in much of anything tonight.

Her first inclination from the get go of the issues this evening were to run. And so far she had been stopped. Talked into staying in the city by Greer. Told she was going to Jim's. She'd come to Mal by choice, that was true. But Estaban stopped her from leaving when things got... awkward. And up until just now Mal had wanted her to stay.

But if she finally had the choice... She would choose to not have anyone else jump down her throat tonight. Her conscience was guilty enough.

Calmly she stood, keeping the cigarette dangling from her lips. Without looking at the three men in the room, she made for the door and opened it. Not panicked, not in a dash. Just very calm. She hadn't the heart to even speak to any of them, her brain having malfunctioned enough this evening.

And the night air would do her some good on her walk of shame.

Estaban sighed as she left. He leaned back in the chair.

"Well at least she wasn't running this time. I guess she has made her choice. That is really too bad."

The youth pulled a card and a pen from his pocket, jutting down something on the back of it and placed it on a nearby table.
"My number and address. You need only call"he said with that same polite tone of voice as he placed a hand to his chest and bowed before taking a step back and moving to follow Cass at a relaxed pace.