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[ukan]

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[ukan]

A long look, before he decides they're circling back to that once he's got a better picture of Edward. Poachers? That's a story that needs full attention.

"What does he get out of it, then? Besides money. Investment bankers do it for money, they don't enjoy it."

[the_executioner]

"I don't know. If I were to ask, he'd just smile at me."

And that's the truth. No one could keep a secret like Edward.

[ukan]

"So those poachers." Eyebrows raised just a bit.

[the_executioner]

Her own brows go up in echo.

"What about them?"

[ukan]

A laugh that's almost a bark. "Anita."

[the_executioner]

"What?" She is confused. Spell it out, Lark.

[ukan]

He leans back, arms loosely crossed. "I assume they weren't poaching you but they still cut up your arm? So what happened?"

[the_executioner]

"Uh, long story really short: The Swan King was fed up being Marcus's flunky- the current Ulfric. And started a poaching and trafficking ring where he kidnapped local wereanimals to be hunted for sport. Edward, Ricard and I caught up to him, things got bad before they got better."

[ukan]

The point he comes back to is: "The Swan King." He decides if he learns nothing else on the ship, he needs to know how vast the supernatural web is in her world. "What is he?"

[the_executioner]

Buckle up then Lark.

"He was the leader of the Swanmanes. They're shifters who are either cursed or born. They aren't contagious, like lycanthropes."

[ukan]

"When I change, I look like a wolf. I've been mistaken for a dog. I've been adopted as a dog. But I've seen that's rare. Other lycnathropes are either bipedal monsters, or giant wolves. So when you say he's a swan, is he some sort of human-bird hybrid?" He should have a more serious question than this, but he doesn't yet.

[the_executioner]

"Not that I know of. He did have down feathers instead of hair, in human form. As far as I'm aware, he transformed just into a swan and back, but he could do it at will."

[ukan]

"You'd think that wouldn't be intimidating, but I saw a swan chase a man through the park once," he muses. "When you graduate, I might have to beg you for a tour of your world."

[the_executioner]

"He seemed to take it as an insult that he changed into a prey animal. And I wouldn't hold your breath on that graduation thing."

Surprisingly, it doesn't sound angry, but tired. Something shifted, but it's really just trading one problem for another.

[ukan]

He snorts softly in amusement about that poor bird man, but his smirk fades and he regards her quietly, intently.

"What do you think graduation means for you?"

[the_executioner]

Poor nothing. Kaspar got what he deserved. Ask her what happened to him sometime, Lark.

"I drink the kool-aid and fall in line with whatever insanity the Admiral wants me to."

[ukan]

A wry smile. "Do I seem brainwashed?" It's an honest question; he has no idea most of the time how people see him, unless they hate him.

[the_executioner]

She shrugs.

"I didn't know you before, so I can't answer that."

[ukan]

"The thing that led to my graduation was the moment I decided I didn't want to reduce the population of Los Angeles." By a large number, but one he never had firmly in his mind. Just enough people that he could reach his goals easily, enough that he could manipulate the outcome.

[the_executioner]

She blinks, taking that news in.

"Why are all the people I get along with, on this boat, all into genocide?"

[ukan]

"You have a type," he says sagely, and shakes his head. "I'm into coexisting these days, at least as far as that can go. I'll never buy into the idea of perfect harmony or world peace, but I think I've found a good balance between self-preservation and not being a madman."

[the_executioner]

"If you're in a better place now, then I'm happy for you. But I can't imagine being kidnapped and tortured was the best way to get you there. It sounds more like correlation than causation."

[ukan]

"I think you're right. I know there are other ways I could have reached that conclusion...but I only came to it when I couldn't actively work on the old goal. I have a bad habit of developing tunnel vision when I have something I want to do." And it still took him somewhere between ten and twenty years to look at alternative routes.

"Anita... I can't change you being stuck here. But I do want to help make this less painful, less- torturous. If I can." He has very little power to influence things here, despite that Warden title. "You know that, don't you?"

[the_executioner]

The look that passes over her face says that, no she she didn't know that. At least, not specifically. He's been an ally, and a friend, but Anita is just used to feeling like she's in things alone.

She gets her face under control, but it's hard to know what to say to that. So she just goes with:

"Thanks, Lark."