Cicero just smiled when Aesa said that she didn't think she was ready to know what he was. That was pretty intelligent. Knowing full well that the mortal mind had its limitations when it came to finding out about things too quickly and being overwhelmed. "Well, it does mean that your home is burnt. Hopefully, after I get my car, we can go to yours, pick up some stuff, and go to a hotel or safe-house," Gerwulf said, glancing over to Cicero as if daring the man to offer an alternative. The suited man kept quiet in that moment, knowing he had no place to speak.
Cicero knew what he was doing when he leaned forward, talking softly in that odd ancient accent, his voice lilting as he responded to her questions. "You may crave certain types of food or sustenance if you have physical changes. You may not be able to control them at first." He stretched out his hands in front of him, slender fingers counting off slowly. Knowing full well that Aesa was staring all the while. "Yes, that is about right. Old alchemy term, though it works with all types of magic as well," Cicero stated in response before the mercenary spoke. "I'm fine with the burden, I've lived a long life and more than enough time as someone else's property," Gerwulf stated as if it were a joke, still smiling and trying to make light of it.
They were both skirting the agreement, yet they were the types to have lived long enough to know better. Cicero, however, had millennia of experience over the pup. Smiling still, he moved a hand and presented its palm skyward. The sounds of the room were eerie at times, yet still so very quiet. The temperature, even as she wore only bandages, was a pleasant warmth. However, some of that was just Cicero. "And how much of the debt do you want to bear?" Gerwulf didn't move, didn't breathe, or make any sounds. Cicero had promised that as long as neither influenced Aesa's choice, then the creature with a human mask would be more lenient.
Burnt. Her mind tried to equate it to literal fire for a second, but then she realized he was using a term she'd heard in movies or tv shows. It mean her homes wasn't safe anymore. She'd have to eat the loss in order to keep her life or her safety. Her eyes closed for a moment, trying not to get emotional. She'd worked so hard for her place. Fought tooth and nail to fund it. Did things she regretted to get the money. Aesa had felt good about what she was building. Helping people. Doing things for others. Living the life that wasn't supposed to be hers. She just gave him a nod about finding some place else. There were bigger concerns at the moment.
Cicero had her full attention. Food? Was she a vampire? No. Her heart was beating. Physical changes? So, shifter? The way he was talking wasn't giving her any actual clues as to what he'd done to her. Technically, what they had done. Gerwulf had the best of intentions though and she couldn't be upset with him for getting her into this situation. She made a frustrated noise when he spoke of being some elses property. "That is only ok in the bedroom with consent, mister." As Cicero asked her about the debt, her head tilted. How was she supposed to answer than when she didn't know the amount?
"There's not a monetary amount? Not a number you can give me? How can I answer that if I don't know what the full amount is." Her eyes cut to Gerwulf and she bit her lip. He just stared at her and she sighed. What was fair? Without knowing what she was getting into, she couldn't say 100%. It might be her life and she'd just gotten it back. "Se... Seventy-five percent..." Her eyes went back to Gerwulf trying to gauge if she made a mistake. She slowly lifted a hand holding it towards Cicero. "Do you have on a heated jacket?"
Cicero was keeping everything vague for a reason; each thing had its price, and information wasn't any different. As for Gerwulf, he was just trying to think of next steps, though that was the issue with young immortals; they forgot that others didn't think of time in that type of spiral. The place she had could still be kept, but it just wasn't safe for her to stay at. She just needed to hire someone to take over classes and pay off the bills until she could return. Though if anyone heard the gunshot and discovered the blood, it was likely going to be difficult to keep what she had built.
Cicero raised a brow at the consent, eyes moving to Gerwulf, who shrugged. Information was being left unspoken, as neither of them pointed anything out at this time. Cicero just stared up at Aesa when she asked about a monetary amount. The fact that older creatures did not need funds made such offers worthless. He'd have asked what the Mona Lisa was worth nowadays; however, Humans had put a price on that. Gerwulf grimaced, but still kept his lips shut when she stated seventy-five percent. Cicero nodded in silent acceptance and just pulled himself onto the table, hands going palm down on the surface as he slid his legs between his arms and transitioned to sitting.
"No, hand..." He murmured, offering her his hand. If she took it, he'd move it to his chest, which would feel like the warmth of a furnace. Slowly, smoke would drift out from his lips and nostrils, that soft smell of Lilac and earth mixing with the comforting scent of a campfire. "Do you believe I have a heated jacket on?" He chuckled, "Gerwulf," finally using the other man's name instead of calling him mercenary. "Bathroom is... well, you know where it is. Give me a few minutes with the woman. Doctor patient confidentiality," He stated. Gerwulf's hackles rose; even in human form, he felt it was a bad idea. "I'll be right back... just think about yourself", Gerwulf murmured before turning to leave the room. The metal door closed after him as he disappeared into a corridor.
Once the muscular man was gone, the touch that was on Aesa's hand lessened as he let her retrieve it if she wanted. "You have questions, ask them. Seventy-five percent was bold of you. He would have offered to heft it all. Does that all the time..." Cicero spoke softly, eyes drifting back from where they had followed Gerwulf out of the room. Glancing back over to Aesa, he tilted his head, piercing blue eyes watching her. Though now, it was less like a steak and more contemplative since she agreed to take up the cost of what was done to her.
There was a sharp inhale of breath as he pulled himself up. She hadn't missed the way Gerwulf grimaced. With all the things he'd told her about his life, he was always doing and fighting the good fight. He didn't need to carry her burden too. That wasn't fair to him. Now that she was piecing together his stories and what all he had done. The jobs he'd had. He'd been sacrificing for a long time and if she could save him from a fraction of it as a thank you for saving her life, she would. Cicero asked for her hand as she sat contemplating and she offered it. When he put her hand on his chest, her eyes lifted up to his face. The smoke made her eyes go wide. She shook her head no when he asked if she still thought it was a jacket. Was he a dragon? They breathed smoke and fire. Right?
Her head turned to Gerwulf when Cicero asked him to leave. She didn't want him to go. It took all she had to swallow down the whimper that threatened to leave her. Once Cicero offered to answer questions, she was at a loss. "I don't know where to start. I'd still like to know what you turned me into. Am I going to look like me when I look in the mirror?" She sighed softly. "So how do I make these payments? You've made it clear you're not interested in money. I don't have anything else to offer. I've been a criminal in the past, but now I teach self defense. Which... when you get shot from a distance, doesn't help much, I'll admit."
What he'd said about Gerwulf sank in and she shook her head. "I didn't want him to do that for me. He saved me by getting me to you. I owe him. He shouldn't owe anything for doing the right thing. If I wasn't afraid that taking 100 percent of the burden would mean giving you back the life you just gave me a second shot at, I'd have said that instead. The things he's told me, he's always been the hero type and he need to think about himself more often." She took a deep breath. "So you're a dragon?" She didn't want to rant anymore and she had no clear way out of it without a swift subject change.
Neither Gerwulf nor Aesa wanted to leave each other's sides while in Cicero's home. It was outside of the material realm of man, which meant that his word was law. However, the wolf man knew that they needed time and that Cicero wouldn't harm Aesa without consent or a very good reason. He doubted the woman would try to kill Cicero anytime soon. So Gerwulf left, moving to the bathroom within the halls to clean himself up. Cicero, on the other hand, stayed there, watching her as she reacted to his body and his words. "It would be a lot more fun to learn through being. Honestly, I am not sure if you will ever show signs of change. All I can guarantee is that you will still look the same in a mirror," He said lightly, watching to see if she would demand more information.
"Favors, priceless artifacts, or new knowledge," He answered, not elaborating on what he meant as she continued. Trying her best to digest the information that was foisted on her. "True, you were literally dead for a bit. My realm traps the soul, so it was easy enough to make you better. As for owe, he already owes me. If you had said all of the price, well, we'd be having a different conversation," Cicero chuckled, that same kind of laugh that was like the ringing of bells. "As for Hero, that was more of a recent development. He got very sick of true bloodshed a while ago." They weren't secrets, so he felt no compunction to keep such information to himself.
When Aesa asked if he was a dragon, he smirked and shook his head. "No, I am human. I may have some after-market parts. That is how Americans put it, right?" Wondering if she would even try to guess what he was again. "I'm guessing your mind is suppressing the sights around you right now." Not needing to motion at the creatures, bits and pieces that were floating in tubes and other containers about them. "Are you really not curious, or would you like just to forget the truth of the world and its little horrors?" He spoke out with a shake of his head. "Just... stay calm." The whisper was like a gentle caress, warmth grasping at one's mind and soul.
