Repp, the Bleached's page

"Well, I know what protocol in the Empire would be, but I think Jiminy would find that a bit rash. How...off...does he seem, and in what way?"

Turns his head as if to look at the patient he was just tending, observing the creature in question in his peripheral vision.

"I merely mentioned a psychological assessment and he may as well have been screaming at the top of his lungs but for the fact that he seemed to afraid to even make a noise." Repp says as succinctly as he can manage. "I would suggest Avalon but even then he might be a danger to others there."

Korren's face shows none of the bitter internal dialogue he is experiencing. I just bet you are going to acquaint me with this agartha. Then his mind processes the psychological assessment part of the statement and it flees, screaming, into the dark recesses that Repp's spell cannot reach.

Korren makes no reply, but waits passively as what little life there was in his eyes fades.

Repp watches intensely as Korren reacts to his rather mundane statement. There’s just the tiniest glimmer in Repp’s eye. ”If there’s no questions then you will have to excuse me a moment.” Repp says, and steps away for a moment towards Ghalen while keeping an eye on Korren. ”I believe we may have a seriously traumatized young man over there. Any idea what the protocol would be?”

Will save DC 34: 1d20+14.

So, I put thoughts into italics.

Korren looks blankly at Repp for a few instants. When he speaks his voice is flat and without inflection, but there are faint sounds of electrical discharge crackling through it, "My name is Korren Blake." As you very well know. This ruse has gotten old.

Repp makes no outwards sign that he is able to read Korren's thoughts while he carries on with the routine he's developing.

In addition, he also does not seem even mildly perturbed by the odd and grotesque body that Korren is sporting.

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr. Blake. I've been assigned to help you get acquainted with Agartha. Once we're done with a psychological assessment we can begin to move you to a temporary living arrangement and then situate you more appropriately. I understand this is all sudden and confusing, but I'm here to answer any questions you may have." He's all business, upfront, forthcoming, and earnest in both body language, and in speech.

Following the directions of these new, very unusual individuals, Korren darts down the cargo ramp. It does not seem that he is hurrying, but his motions are almost too fast to register. He comes to a stop in front of the small pale man.

This pale person is the same size I would have been. Is this the new torment, to taunt me with what could have been? It will not work, evil ones.

A flicker of something crosses his face, gone too quickly to be identified, and he glances at the sky for a moment before bringing his attention back to Repp.

After having sorted through a few others (and action which involves a brief conversation, and to the perceptive, Repp's eyes glowing momentarily), giving them a brief set of instructions to help them get settled, he moves on to the strange half-spider creature.

The gnome's mannerisms are very calming. There are no sudden movements, and his voice flows with a gentle authority as he speaks. It is difficult to find fault in the way he conducts himself.(Nothing magical at work, just a very high Charisma/Diplomacy score)
"Greetings. My name is Repparyn. May I have your name?" Korren will note that again, Repp's eyes glow very briefly.

Korren is now being subjected to a Detect Thoughts power. DC to resist is 34.

As the ship descends, Ghalen takes note of Class, name, and registry. After the ship lands, and the refugees are given clearance to leave, Ghalen begins to section them off into groups, ordered by injury, and mental state. He will do so with precision, as if it's second nature.

"Repp, this group seems to be the most lucid. Perhaps you can start gathering information from them..."

Repp watches Ghalen move about his work, not interfering and assisting in helping to sort the refugees and is needed, allowing the other to take the lead. Once Ghalen seems satisfied with the sorting and given Repp a take, the gnome takes to it with gusto.

Are we assuming Korren Blake is among the 'lucid' group? He doesn't seem very lucid. ;P

Repp, the Bleached wrote:

Repp glances around at his current sensory blank confinement. "I suppose I'm all ears," he says with a small smirk, clearly enjoying his own joke.

"Alright. You're an observant fellow, you like learning about the new and different, and your past has honed your ability to pick 'bad apples' out of a barrel."

"I've got a bunch of refugees from the Empire about to touch down in Kuros, and I'd really like to be sure we don't have any troublemakers in their midst."

"How would you like do a spot of detective work for me, and get some new cultural experiences under your belt while you're doing it?"

Repp seems to consider for a moment, before nodding. "Meeting new people is among my favourite things to do, and if I've understood correctly, these refugees would not even be from Agartha!"

"Now that sounds like a fun afternoon." he finishes with a smile. "I will do it, though I think I should probably know a little more about their situation, as I imagine it is somewhat delicate."

As we waits for James to reply, Tamrin switches the comm to the detention room back on briefly and speaks to Repp.

"I think I have a job for you that might seriously pique your interest. Give me a couple of minutes - if that interests you, I'll have you out of that room presently."

Repp glances around at his current sensory blank confinement. "I suppose I'm all ears," he says with a small smirk, clearly enjoying his own joke.

"With no 'out of control' abilities you need to get a handle on, that would've been a slightly better direction to pursue. I'm surprised the Headmaster didn't suggest it at your entrance interview. Hm."

"He did seem rather distracted during my interview, to be completely honest. Understandable, perhaps, if the threat is very real." Repp replies, his attitude apparently shifting slightly away from his resolute nonchalance. "Is there anything to be done? I've heard various rumours from the student body but it's obviously hearsay."

"There we go. That's all I'm looking for - simple answers to simple questions. Thank you sir."

"Now, please tell to me about why you're here at Avalon. I ask because your file doesn't show any of the normal reasons for enrolling in this particular school..."

Repp leans back again, nonchalant in his attitude. "I needed a place that would challenge me, and I enjoy meeting new people. It seemed like a natural place to be. Though, I think I probably should've seen if there were any openings for teaching instead."

"Y'see, here I was thinking that - having grown up on the streets of Lemnos, as you say - that you'd be gifted with some common sense," Tamrin remarks in the same calm tone.

"But if that were true, you would've answered those questions instead of sidestepping them. And for you to drop a name like the Dragon Empire in casual conversation, you're either: A) from the Empire; or B) eavesdropping in places you really shouldn't be. Neither of which are making your immediate future any shinier, by the way."

"Now... would you care to take a 'do-over' on those answers, young man? Or are you just going to hope your other foot tastes better than the one you just put in your mouth?" (^-^)

Repp makes an audible scoff and rolls his eyes at his interrogator's flippant nature. "Perhaps if you stopped condescending for a few moments and actually talked to the student body. I learned about the Empire from a fellow student within a few hours of arriving. I also learned that the school's administration appears to be scared senseless of it."

"Seems to be true, at least based on my current circumstances." he adds, with another fairly relaxed shrug.

"And I did answer your question, though I guess I can do away with the subtlety for you: I was 'scoping' the lab out for myself, because you can never know when danger will strike. I like to be prepared."

He pulls his visor out of one of his duster pockets and puts it on. A moment later the detention room where the gnome is being held appears on the HUD. He checks the data logs to make sure his 'guest' hasn't already started talking (noting the flare of energy from his eyes), then cues up the intercom. Repp hears a disembodied voice fill the chamber.

"Hi there. We'll try cutting to the chase here and see how that works out."

"why were you scoping out the lab, and for whom?"

Repp doesn't seem either intimidated or even perturbed at being imprisoned, having made himself quite comfortable on the chair provided. He does look up though, searching for a source for the voice.

"I'm not an agent of the Dragon Empire, if that is what you're asking." he replies calmly, simply looking upwards into the white.

"The streets of Lemnos are not an easy place to grow up, especially for someone as small as myself. I've learned to observe, and to listen. It's why I'm still alive. I apologize if that offends you."

Tamrin nods to Keme as he and the other student come in. He is about to go back to work on his Datapad when he notes the behavior of this second person. The brazenness of the timing was...impressive, if nothing else.

Not changing his posture or his facial expression, he does indeed return his attention to his Datapad - but now for a new reason. After pulling up and reading the (not-surpisingly) sparse file on his new subject, he sends a brief telepathic message to his wife:

** spoiler omitted **

And then Tamrin mentally triggers one of his new contingencies to deal with new threats....and Repp disappears without preamble.

The adolescent gnome is now in a plain, white room with no apparent way out. The only appointments present at the moment are a table and a pair of chairs.

Repp had just turned to address Raelle with a quickly concealed expression of surprise, when he is unceremoniously jerked away from the lab, leaving Raelle to speak with an empty space in the lab.

Repp quickly looks around this new space. His eyes glow momentarily as he sweeps the room with his gaze, before he shrugs, and takes to one of the oversized chairs, reclining non-chalantly.

Also, knew Repp couldn't be trusted

I dunno what you are talking about. Completely innocent over here. And being held against my will mind you.

"Hmmph. I do have some self control, you know" she muttered, moving to the next cart and inhaling the food it contained.

With the carts finally brought into the lab space, Repp finally seems to relax, moving a bit off to the side and looking around the room with a casual demeanor, obviously curious.

Keme cursed under his breath as they navigated the last couple of turns. Thankfully the kitchen had hovercarts to use to carry all this food. Unfortunately the carts had terrible steering and he was certain they were designed for the maximum number of collisions with the wall.

"I said left.....other left!" he yelled back to Repp who was helping steer the unwieldy chain of carts from the back.

Repp clenched his teeth but didn't rise to the bait. "If I go left it's just gonna hit the other wall!" he said back as calmly as he could manage - which is to say somewhat cross-sounding. "I'm about 10 seconds away from just wasting the energy and psychoporting us there!"

"Not like I can stop you," he said wryly. "Although I advise you to stay behind something solid when I tell the kitchen staff that all that food needs to be packed up and sent to Professor Sunwake's lab. They tend to throw things when they're upset."

"She's the dragon, yes?" Repp asked curiously as he steps quickly to keep up with Keme's longer strides. "And, as for solid... well, I think I can keep us safe." On the word 'safe' Repp's eyes glow a light blue colour and the air a few feet in front of the pair shimmers and seems to form into something solid. "Safe enough for kitchen dangers, leastways." he replies, matching Keme's wry grin with one of his own.

"Ace" wrote:

Using a minor spell to hold several of the plates to free one hand, Ace pats Keme on the shoulder. "You're a good friend Keme. Let me go eat in my room, and feed my puppy, then if you'd like we can sit down and brainstorm. I also want to go check on Ginni, so maybe we can meet up at the infirmary?" It seems Keme and Repp's attitudes have helped shake Ace out of his funk a bit.

"Yeah, okay. They're getting used to me haunting the infirmary anyway. I'll see you there," Keme agreed before heading off to give the cafeteria staff the bad news about needing to transport Aananda's lunch to her lab.

"Mind if I tail you?" Repp asks seriously as he falls into step with Keme.

"Umm...thanks for offering...I don't actually remember what your name is....." Keme said, uncomfortable with the realization that he had completely overlooked this gnome, not even been aware of his presence.

"Repparyn, at your service. Though you may call me Repp if it suits you. Most big folk don't much care for the full length of my name. Such a shame." Repp says offhandedly before Ace poses his question about Vai. He listens quietly as Keme answers, looking back and forth between the two taller students.

"Pardon... who is Vai? What has happened to her?" he asks respectfully, seeing the effect the question had on Keme.

"Perhaps I could be of assistance in that regard? Ginni and Kitty have offered me their friendship and these events have been truly shocking." Repp offers to Keme from beside Ace, having trailed along with him.

If Keme is at all familiar with gnomes, he might recognize that, apart from his eyes, Repp looks like a Bleachling. Except that can't be right... He is far too young to have experienced the bleaching. Albinoism, maybe? Did gnomes even get that?

Ace barely acknowledges Repp, but gives a very terse reply of "Nope".

He gets a surprising variety of food, small samples and portions from pretty much all the different types of racial and cultural options, sans the stuff for the Firebirds. He's not gotten that much of an iron stomach, yet.

Repp's blood red eyes narrow slightly at that but he nods. "I see." he replies blankly, something of a match for Ace's own tone.

"Is anyone investigating? I should offer my talents." Repp continues, not getting anything to eat for himself as he trails along next to Ace.

Ace wanders into the lunchroom looking rather despondent, avoiding any of this friends and not bothering to even say hi. Those who have befriended him or even been around him enough know that this is a drastic out of character change in behavior.

He stands in line, silently waiting for his food.

Spotting Ace entering the cafeteria, Repp breaks away from the conversation he was having and walks slowly over to him, dodging the bigger folks crowding the place. He's obviously fairly subdued himself.

"Any improvement?" he asks quietly as he slides in next to Ace.

Nope 2 scimitars

He looks at Repp's feet.
"At the last murder scene the only foot prints that were found were small ones, my suspicions are justified... however, I'd like to look for tracks again, before the scene is too disturbed. Please stand back."

If they make no overt moves, he will do just that.

[dice=Survival]1d20+32

Repp's eyes continue to stay trained suspiciously on Al'rqyq, watching the Maftet to ensure he does nothing to disturb the crime scene or destroy evidence. Occasionally his glance strays to the dead form of Ginni herself, worry plain on his face.

Repp's eyes had narrowed suspiciously upon the maftet's arrival, and he had silently moved into a defensive posture. When the creature begins to make his accusations, Repp's eyes further narrow. "Be wary, Reviarti." Repp says quietly, his voice deadly calm and his eyes trained on the maftet's every move. "This creature has arrived just as we have, and has immediately begun to make blame-shifting accusations."

Is Al'rqyq carrying any visible stabbing weapons?

riviarti catches the prying eye, and leads repp to the body.

"Look, we shouldn't stay out here. We're velnurable too out here."

"If you want to leave, fine." Repp snaps, his emotions getting the better of him right then. "Just find a Professor or someone to tell about this. Whoever did this deserves the same treatment they gave to Ginni." he replies harshly, continuing his slow pace, checking everything around him for anything that might be a clue.

Reviarti wrote:

after taking repo outside, riviarti produces several small white orbs, and commands them to search for ginni within a mile, and if found, to return to her, and they fly off.

"Well, that's done."

Ginni's body is lying in a small clearing in the woods just outside the wards, to the northeast of the school.

As soon as they come within sight of the scene, Repp immediately stops, placing an arm on Reviarti to stop her as well. His expression is one of stone cold fury, though a deeper examination would reveal that there are tears forming in his eyes as well - ones which he rapidly blinks away. "We need every single detail we can find, before we move her. That's the only way we're ever going to catch this murderer."

Assuming Reviarti does the same, Repp will fan out with her, starting around 50 feet away from the body and searching for anything that might be out of the ordinary.

"I understand uncontrollable emotions. You shouldn't see me when i fail. It's... Less then flattering. Anyway, i had no plans to leave it there. Come outside, and I'll send out some scouts to find the precise location, and call tural to help."

"Alright." Repp replies, nodding and keeping his brevity.

"Thank you." he adds on after another moment of silence.

"Perhaps. Probobly not, however. Time sight is unstable, I'm no professional illusionist, and my memory isn't photographic."

riviarti remains unnaturally calm.
"Honestly, calm down. You're freaking me out a bit. She's dead, we needn't rush. Rushing won't change that, and we have the resources to bring her back, if she so desires. If she doesn't, then she's where she wants to be. And if you're worried about the corpse, I'll be looking at it all day, unless she gets raised today, then I'll be looking at her living body all day."

"I apologize if my manner is offputting." Repp says, finally blinking and breaking away from staring directing at Reviarti. "These emotions are hard to control. Ginni is someone I can relate closely with, and I've been very thrown by this."

"It seems... insulting and degrading, to just leave her body laying in the forest though. What is Tural and can I go with her right away to retrieve the body, and hopefully raise her?"

"The "killer" seems to be humanoid, based on the impressions on the grass, or has feet, or is a shapeshifter, and he or she stabs. That's all i could get. Rather useless. Of course i would rather stay within the wards. Tural can get the body, she's nigh indestructible."

"Can you recreate the scene with magic? Can this Time Sight as you called it show me the scene as it was, with all the detail in-tact?" Repp asks intently, once again starting Reviarti in the eye with almost frightening intensity.

"Of course not! I can do a lot more. Give me a spell and I'll know it by the end of the day, i have no problems casting any type of spell. But i can't do anything to someone i can't find, identify, or... anything. I don't prepare combat spells, i have tural to help me with that."

Repp relaxes his analysis slightly, nodding at that. "I understand. But there's more than just divinations that can help to identify the murderer. Tell me any details you can remember, and I'll find someone else to help me go out to Ginni, if you'd prefer to stay within the wards." Repp replies evenly, his body still held tightly under control, keeping his words and manner diplomatic, despite the passion going through him. He might have been implying that Reviarti was cowardly, but nothing in his tone spoke to that.

"I tried to track down the killer. He had some sort of shielding from both my time sight and true seeing. Unfortunate, but there isn't really much i can do.... Well, i could in theory find her body, but it's likely that if i were to go out there, outside the wards, i could get killed too."

"So the killer can block divinations. That means they must be a powerful mage or psion." Repp says, his eyes have narrowed and now he's studying Reviarti more intently. The passion is still there, that much is obviously by the way he's rigidly holding himself. "Are you saying that the only things you can do are cast divinations? No ability to do anything else at all?"

"And what do you expect me to do? I've failed once at this before, why would i succeed now?"

"What do you mean, you failed once? What did you do?" Repp asks back, passion very clearly simmering under the surface, though the gnome obviously is in complete control of his passions.

If Ace and Ginni weren't on the 'outs' right now, then Repp might've done just that, Ace. ;P

"Well, she's dead in the forest outside school. Another murder. I bet i can't do anything about this one either."

her mood instantly changes from optimistic to downtrodden.
"That's what i can tell you. I doubt my time sight will be of any use, it wasn't earlier..."

Repp's expression has gone very cold, and the corner of his mouth twitches, perhaps in anger. "Another?" he asks bluntly. "More than just Tanaka-senpai?" Repp asks, short and to the point, his eyes gleaming with what could be cold fury.

"If that's true, we need to find this person. They have to be stopped. But for now, we need to get to Ginni. She doesn't deserve this." Repp's sentences are short and to the point, and his blood red eyes are intently focused on Reviarti, unblinking.

"That will help. Don't worry so much. We'll find her, unless she's trying not to be found. I can cast divinations quickly, no longer then a few seconds."

riviarti is hard to read, lacking many normal human mannerisms. She's quite calm nonetheless.

As good as his word, Repp stops and focuses for a moment, and in the air in front of him forms a small likeness of Ginni in face and body - including the horns and wings which marked her demonic heritage.

The ability is a Psionic power, and is wholly visual - essentially a Silent Image.

"Yeah, i can help."

riviarti sighs a little...
"Late for my first day of class. Not the best impression... Anyway, do you have a picture of her, any body part like hair?"

Repp shakes his head no, urgency still written in his body. He frowns slightly at Reviarti's seemingly casual attitude towards a missing person. "I don't, no, but I could create a figment-like image if that would help."

"Come in then, I've got to get to class soon, it seems."

riviarti closes her book on magical theory before putting it into her satchel.

"If you can help, her name is Ginni. She was just out by the lake, and I went to get her some breakfast and when I returned, she was gone. The arrows say she's not in school grounds." Repp says, a sense of urgency obviously driving him, as he's a bit pushy, pushing the door open and stepping into the room.

"Hmm? Yes? Who is it?"

Repp cursed just as the bell rang, though spoke up so that he could be heard through the door. "I need someone to help me find a friend who's gone missing. The arrows led me here." He replies, not really caring overmuch for going to class at the moment.

riviarti is eating in her room while working on some magical theory papers.

As Reviarti is finishing up her meal, there comes a rather insistent knocking at the door.

Ryleh teaches History. The Divination teacher is actually Ryo. Perhaps he can just go looking for a diviner in general? Then anyone who feels up to it can jump in.

We'll go with that. I imagine it'll guide me to the nice Slug Lady, though it's open to anyone really, if Icehawk doesn't want to take it.

The arrow spins in place. Wherever Ginni is, she's not inside the building.

Starting to get seriously worried now, especially with the recent attacks against the school, Repp glances around. He needed someone who could find Ginni. He was no Seer, that was sure. Maybe the Headmaster himself? No, likely busy... perhaps the Divination Professor? Repp places a hand on the wall, calling forth the arrows to the Divination teacher...

Whom I believe is Ryleh? Or am I mistaken and do we not have a named Divination teacher?

There are already several sets of footprints around the lake. Separating out which ones belong to Ginni is going to be a very difficult task indeed.

Repp frowns. Maybe she had to use the washroom or something. This was very worrisome. Ginni wasn't exactly the type to just wander off. At least the arrows could help him find her.

Repp hurries back up into the school cafeteria and places a hand on the wall, calling forth the arrows to locate Ginni.

Repp, the Bleached wrote:

A brace of cinnamon rolls held firmly in his hand, Repp dodges past some commotion occurring in the cafeteria, trotting out onto the patio - recent scene of some commotion itself, and begins the quick jaunt back down to the lake on foot.

There is no sign of Ginni at the lake or anywhere within his current view.

Repp stops short and glances around. She had been here not five minutes ago, and she had seemed too calm and too hungry to just wander off without her breakfast. He hurries to the spot he had left her, still tightly gripping the cinnamon rolls he had retrieved for them. He could at least track her - the ground was pretty soft this morning from the downpour the previous day.

A brace of cinnamon rolls held firmly in his hand, Repp dodges past some commotion occurring in the cafeteria, trotting out onto the patio - recent scene of some commotion itself, and begins the quick jaunt back down to the lake on foot.

"Yes, alright. I am hungry. But I don't think that I can face the cafeteria again this morning. Could you bring me a cinnamon roll please?" she asked with the slightest hint of a smile, finally starting to relax.

"Of course I can, not a problem." he replies with a genuine smile, his intensity from a few moments earlier seeming to fade away. "I'll be back shortly then."

With that, Repp seems to focus for a moment, and then he's transported into the hallway just outside the cafeteria, just in time to see the two Aschen scampering way with their pilfered loot.

He steps inside, sliding past a pair of beauties near the door and making directly for the food line, moving with determination before coming to a halt as he enters the queue.

"It's not a long list," she said quietly. "And it's two people shorter after Saturday."

"It doesn't always have to get shorter. It can get longer as well. You won me over, and at least a few others in the short time I've been here." Repp says quietly, his intense gaze never having left Ginni's eyes.

"Come on, why don't you sit down?" Repp says softly, finally breaking contact and motioning towards a nice spot of grass. "If you want, I can go up to the school and bring you breakfast, alright?"

"Of course Phaezeriel isn't evil! He works in the infirmary. He helps people."

"I'm just afraid that my powers don't have any uses that are for good. They were intended to be used to lure people into doing bad things, after all. And even when I use them for good reasons, like stopping Kai from trying to kill someone over something stupid...well....the fact that it becomes easier to influence someone every time I do it...living with that kind of temptation is hard. And...people stop trusting you after a while. Even if you don't misuse it, they know you can."

"That's hogwash, Ginni." Repp replies, himself getting heated in that moment. "I've spoken to people about Phaezeriel. He's a healer of the mind, but before he can heal their minds, he needs access. People are willing to trust the sanctity of their minds to a Demon. Why? Because he's shown that he is worthy of trust." Repp calms down slightly, though his gaze is still fixed, maintaining eye contact with Ginni.

"There are plenty of people here who seem to have enough power to level entire cities, if they pushed themselves. If people want to assume the worst of you, then you ought not associate with them. They aren't worth even a moment of your time. When those rumours about you surfaced, who stood with you? They are the ones who matter."

"But they're evil! And I've spent my whole life trying to prove that I'm not evil! How could embracing something that's evil possibly be a good thing?"

"And the Quasit at the school, is he Evil?" Repp counters calmly, now meeting Ginni's eyes, his tone and demeanor completely serious.

"Ginni... you and I both lived on the streets. We've seen Evil. It doesn't have to be a fiend, or fiend-blood. People do it every day. Regular humanoids." his gaze is intense, but hard to break away from.

"What I'm trying to say - your abilities are only as Evil as you make them. You get to decide whether or not their use will be a force for good or for bad."

"You can't cast aside abilities you're born with. I mean, trust me, there are plenty of people here who would if they could. Some abilities shouldn't be used. That doesn't mean I never use my abilities, but only in emergencies and, unless it's an accident, I always make sure that the person knows about the possible side effects first. It's important to keep to a strict set of ethics when using powers that influence the minds and perceptions of others," she said, sounding like she was reciting part of a lesson at the end, probably something that was often repeated during enchantment classes.

"I agree, the mind is a sacred thing, not to be toyed with." Repp replied sagely, nodding and smiling. He was glad he had been able to distract her from her trouble with what was becoming an academic discussion. "And I understand what you are saying with abilities you cannot cast aside, but Ginni... if your abilities are in your Mind... you can have complete control of them, but first you have to learn to embrace them whole-heartedly. Maybe that is what is holding you back in learning to control them."

Ginni blushed. "Uhhh....yeah....I wouldn't do that if I were you. I may only be a half-succubus, but I have a lot of the same abilities as the real deal. And not the best control of them. That's why I have to not use my abilities. Like I said, side effects."

Repp waves a hand dismissively, that smile still wide on his face. "Don't worry about me too much. I have my own defenses." he glances towards the quiet lakeside.

He turns his gaze back to her after a moment, getting serious, the smile disappearing from his sheet white face. "Ginni, you can't be afraid of your own abilities. You have to master them, and you if you still can't, you have to tear those abilities away and cast them aside. Having complete control of yourself is very important. And that means not being afraid of yourself."

"Oh, it's just enchantment type stuff," she said dismissively. "I inherited it from my mom. Which is why it isn't exactly safe to use being a demon ability and all. I've spent a lot of time learning how not to use it to avoid accidents."

Repp's eyes twinkle slightly at that, his grin widening slightly. "Maybe I can help with that. I might be able to help make it more safe. After all, just because it is your mother's legacy doesn't make it evil. Is this why your mind seems so... seductive? I've brushed against it once before."

"Yeah...I guess you're right. I just wish that I could protect all of them. Sounds pretty silly coming from me. I'm not exactly what you'd call powerful. I don't dare use my one good ability because of the side effects and I'm too scared to use my music so I can't really do anything with that either. My teacher could. That was part of what made her so scary. But I guess that's neither here nor there. Mostly I just hate feeling helpless."

"Which good ability is that?" Repp asks, gnomish curiosity creeping back into his voice. "You might not be as helpless as you are feeling right now. Maybe we can find an outlet for you."