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Looked at Fer and tilted his head, "She's not from my world Populus, so she's not touched by those things that taint the women of Earth. She...is remarkable. It's that remarkablility in her that allowed her to love both you and I. Two very unconventional attractions." He offered a smile, he wasn't trying to be offensive of course he was just stating the obvious.

There was another silence and Drae used that time to study him. "Mmm yes, even in my time women are not quite the same. Matriarchs are few and far in between and those that remain are...unusual. I think if you choose to see more of women you'll find it hard to see one quite like Chiara. But there are those out there."

He looked to the pub and pointed lightly, "The Lady Philomela reminds me of Chiara in ways, but even then I do not think there will be another like Chi. Definitely not in my lifetime."

He watched Fer one more time letting silence draw out, "I do have one question, and you need not answer it if you feel it is too...personal." He paused before looking at Fer one more time, "Why...do you restrain your heart so much Populus?" He had always wondered, but didn't necessarily feel like he could or should ask it. And perhaps now was an even worse time to ask but he had it nagging in his brain.

"Your lifetime appears to be a broad spectrum." Ferous pointed out, glancing aside to Draeval. Typical stormy greys were... vague, and heartless compared to their perpetual unrest. A blank palatte, only somewhat seeing in the dim of their alleyway. "...Though I imagine I understand your point."

The following question, however, drew perpetuated silence and a hanging of the head. "The heart, I have found, is a weakness. To follow it opens oneself, and even others, to its faults." The answer was deflecting at best. Even Ferous' eyes drifted aside. While telling in its own rites, to those who might know the history, it told little upon the surface.

Cleared his throat, "Yes...it is." He caught that look and couldn't meet it, his eyes darted off. He had become so much more wary of talking about his past that it seeped out in uncomfortable gestures. Rubbing his neck, one hand tucked in his clothes. He just shut it out, especially here in Alexandria.

There was the silence and Drae looked slowly back at Fer, "True, but it can also be a strength. But...I believe I understand what you're not saying Populus. As much as I can anyway." He'd learned that subtext and silence was more of an indication of what Fer was feeling than what his words would sometimes say.

"Have you any other questions? I am due to answer them-- to you, especially, it seems."

Blinked at Fer and tilted his head, "Well...why especially me?" He was so confused that statement didn't make sense in his head AT all. Draeval just seemed a little lost. Good job Fer!

"You have some sense of quantitude on in my future. Why not you?"

Blinked at Fer for another long moment and the silence dragged on, "I..." Draeval just didn't know what to say and was thus reduced to stammering and then just silence. Fer has officially just silenced a wolf.

He cleared his throat after a minute, "I suppose I didn't think of it, us quite that way. I don't know I'm more of a house pet I suppose." That would probably make no sense to Fer right now. "Um but no I don't think I have...any other questions." Drae was so lost.

"If what I gather is true, you are, in fact, a most epic house pet." Ferous pointed out, locking onto Draeval. Apparently, they weren't entirely blind by day. "If you've no other queries, then I suppose we are done." With no extenuating questions, Ferous... wrapped out of existance, something like a million threads being ripped away in their according colors and retiring as though nothing was ever there.

Almost choked on his own tongue but then he just grinned broadly. "Wow." He laughed out and then gave that Drae smile, the one that was so broad it forced his eyes to change to a whimsical color. Which is probably very Luci like, but it wasn't near as frightening just warm and fun.

"I believe so then, until I dream I suppose." Fer left in his own way and he smiled. "Epic house pet...wait till I tell Gabe." He mused as he picked his way towards the pub.

Philomela seemed hesitant to approach, but she finally did slide into the seat next to him, and she allowed him to put his arm around her. She didn't mind his warmth, even though it was hot outside, his heat was almost...comforting, in a different sort of way. Twice she tried to open her mouth to speak, and twice she was silenced by Ash.

He finally let her speak, and she let out a pent up breath of air, "I disagree with my Lord. My actions would be like telling him he was wrong. I...I don't think a God can be wrong but...I, I just don't agree." She was all sorts of mixed up about the situation, that much was obvious. "To disagree with a God is deserving of punishment I think. I...It's like saying that I know better than a God." She's chewing on her lip, and her cheeks go red, "You value my friendship that much?" She still didn't understand why he'd taken a fancy to her. At first she thought it because she was a woman and she was around, but she'd seen him flirt with other girls in the tavern, and he didn't try and befriend them the way he had with her.

As for the second half of Ash's request, "You wish me to lie?" That boggled her more than anything, "Isn't that a dishonor to my Lord as well?" She'd look down at the table, "I don't want to be used against you. Any of you. Even Lord Athena." She's still not looking up at him, "I would like to visit you again tonight, if you'll have me." She's blushing again, "And I'll be glad to know anything you wish to tell me." She's still looking down at the table, seeming very interested in the whorls in the wood. "I just...I won't get lost will I?" The thought of her mind drifting out into space was a somewhat sobering thought.

"Why must every god know better than you?" He riddled, single unmasked eye sliding aside to her as he pondered over the rest of her commentary. "You're a strong-willed girl. Though you might be misdirected at times, you follow what you believe. Why wouldn't I appreciate that? And no, you shouldn't get lost. If you find the wrong door you're more apt to get lost within your own mind in a particular dream until you awake, in which case you try another night; the if you arrive too late, however, you'll find myself more lost to this world than my resting place; which is my dream becomes fairly... relative."

The rest was a heavier topic that required careful choice of words. "Take a page from Via's book. You've traveled with him long enough. You needn't have to lie to avoid telling everything. Your task was... to follow him until you found what he stole. Clearly, you have found nothing and thereby your charge to follow him is not over. Continuing your path as is would be no affront to him. He has already located us, so by that what weaponization there is in you has already taken effect. Your option is to choose carefully when you follow the messenger, or when you happen to look the other way while he heads on his. Take your time, consider your approach, then do what you are certain is right--for you as much as us."

*if you arrive, not the if you

Philomela stared at Ash as if he'd grown several extra heads. "Are you crazy?" Yeah, because calling a god crazy wasn't blasphemous. "He's a God. Of course he knows better." He'd have a hard time convincing her otherwise, considering what time period they were in and how she'd been raised. "It's not my place to call him right or wrong." She really just wished she hadn't stumbled onto any part of this.

His compliment to her makes her flush again, "You always flatter me Lord." She'd nod about the rest, "Then I will try tonight." Hopefully she wouldn't get lost, but the way he spoke even if she did it wouldn't matter much. She'd simply wake up and have to try again another time.

She'll think about the last bit he had to offer for a few moments, "So you're saying...it wouldn't really be a lie if I said nothing at all." She'd bit her lip, "Even though I know he really didn't take anything? Just...pretend I don't know that?" She seems skeptical at best, trying to fool a God didn't really seem the best course of action. "And if he finds out my deception?" She'd pale a bit, "He frightens me." She had thought that Hermes would frighten her the same way, but he didn't. Ash didn't really scare her either. Even Athena, who was the scariest of the three in her opinion did not frighten her as much as Apollo did.

"Riddle me this: If you can not know better than I, how is it you dare challenge the query I just gave you and label me insane? And if you can not know better than me, and can not know better than Apollo, how can there be any answer to it? And if there is no answer to it, why would I have asked you the question to begin with?" He tilted his head to stare directly at her. "You dare to challenge my right and wrong. Why is it your place here, then?"

The rest drew a rattling sigh. "If he finds out your deception then you may call for me. I've volunteered that much, and that much I would owe you if you took my advice--something I've already volunteered to do, but then could be an owed duty."

Philomela felt trapped. No matter how she replied to that, there was no real answer. She looked sheet white just about then, almost as if she might pass out. Pan must have frightened her more than she thought, and she scooted away from him if she could so that she could do a sort of half bow from where she was sitting, "Beg pardon Lord. I didn't...I mean..." She had meant what she said, but then how could she mean it and not disagree with him? She honestly didn't even know what to do or say at this point, and his latter offer went unanswered. He probably hadn't meant to turn the girl into a trembling heap seated next to him, but that's exactly what he'd done.

He let out a sigh, allowing her the distance she took and even dropping his arm from over her shoulder to claim his cup and enjoy his drink. "I thought we were past this. You have no need to tremble near me. It is simply... something to think over. What you perceive of us is due to change, but it is only upon your revelation; I can not feed it to you."

Philomela peeked up with him, "You're not...angry with me for disagreeing with you?" She still seemed worried, but he was sitting there calm as ever sipping his tea. If he continued to show no signs of anger she would sit back up, "I may have worded it...harsher than need be. I'm sorry." She'd glance at him again, as if to assure herself that he truly wasn't angry with her.

He didn't seem angry. Stony, perhaps, but that could be considered typical. "No. To understand the idea of a god you must first understand the daimons, from which godly belief once descended. Undying, perhaps powerful, and capable of emotion no different from men. I take no offense in a different viewpoint. Another might. Even 'gods' can bear an aspect of humanity. ...You can look me in the eye again, you know."

When deep in conversation, the plumes of smoke could easily be missed. The mysterious man at he bar held the pipe responsible for the absurd amount of smoke pouring out and looming about. A slight tilt of his head came at different punctuations in the conversation that Philomela and Ash were having.

The regulars around the bar were due to pass out relatively quick or start seeing soothing illusions. For now the man with the pipe remained silent. The smoke made a point to avoid the area Ash and Philomela took residence. He was interested in that conversation.

Philomela relaxed a little more when he didn't even seem the least bit angry. "But...then they'd be just like...people. Really powerful people...but...." She'd look down at the table again, "That just doesn't make sense to me." Could he really blame her for feeling that way?

She'd look up at him when he mentioned it, "It's a lot to take in...that's all." She's going to pull her hair over her shoulder and she'll start braiding it, for something to do with her hands. "Well...if we're going to be here awhile...I might go back to the library. They had some very interesting texts. I'm not sure if they'll let me in though, what with the string of thefts that have happened lately."