Coffee or Tea (Artskaf)

[Claude Saint-Clair]

Claude had arrived at precisely 9:50.  He was a firm believer that you were on time if you were five minutes early, and late if you were on time. Of course this meant that he left even earlier to prepare for any possible delays in his travel.  At least that is what he had told himself when he left his hotel that morning to come to cafe that Nora had mentioned to him. He was anxious for this meeting.  Nora had said in her text message that she was fine, and it wasn't often he wanted to contradict his sister, but since the fire at Moscow HQ, she had gone almost completely silent.  What communication they got from her was vague.  It was very unlike the Nora he had known before the fire.  Despite her words, Claude knew something was up.

Artskaf was a unique place, nothing seemed to match, and Claude found he liked it.  It seemed to be a place where art was allowed to thrive.  Indeed there were several pieces on the wall for sale.  Claude took a table underneath the only one that wasn't - a portrait of a woman in the neoclassical style.  The golden eyes of the woman made Claude wonder if the model for the painting had been a wolfkin, and if she had been, if she was still around.  Once more, Claude thought about whether or not such people (and people they were) should simply be removed for no other reason than existing.

Claude ordered and Earl Grey tea with honey, deciding against coffee even though he had mentioned it.  His mood was different today, glad to be seeing Nora, and worried that the meeting might not be a happy one.  She had always been protective of him, and he had always returned that feeling.  Still he hoped for the best.  He steeled himself for the conversation.  She would try to convince him to leave Moscow - he was sure of it, but he was here, and had no plans on leaving.