firstofitskind | The Flat Planet Café, Baltimore [Lunchtime Thursday]

Liam had been amused and, truth be told, somewhat pleased, to find out that the Baltimore franchise of the Flat Planet did indeed exist in Verity's reality. Sure, the faces weren't the ones he knew from DC, and there were no ties to an underground Resistance movement, but it was a little bit of the familiar in a world that he still felt like he was trying to find his footing in.

In the months since he'd made this discovery, he'd become somewhat of a regular, coming in just frequently enough that his presence was unremarkable as far as the staff was concerned. Dominic, used as he was to skulking about in the shadows, was less convinced as to Liam's rationale and refused to show up there quite as often. Still, it was on the list of (reasonably) safe meeting locations, and was the one they'd agreed upon today.

Liam entered the restaurant, finding himself a seat with a good view of both the main door and the back room, and pretended to busy himself with looking at a menu he'd long-since memorized as he waited for Dominic.

Dominic	"Liam." Never one for effusive greetings, today Dominic somehow managed to sound even more dour than usual. His expression was drawn and the lines around his eyes more pronounced. Someone hadn't been getting much sleep over the last few days. "No three-dimensional checker board today, Liam?" he asked, giving him a tired smile. "I don't suppose it's so I can get some of my pride back trouncing you in chess." Somewhere, there was a Cuckoo who was very grumpy about not being told that checkers came in three dimensions.
Liam	And Liam would be all too happy to introduce that particular Cuckoo to the game. You know, when they weren't all under threat of imminent death. "If by 'trouncing me' you mean 'losing to me. Again.', sure, we could do that," Liam said, his tone light even as his expression was clearly sympathetic.
Dominic	"I've got a list of checkmates that says otherwise," Dominic said mildly, taking a seat that also let him keep watch on both the entrances. He was better at it now than he'd been when he'd first shown up, months of practice turning what had been intellectual understanding into practice. "How's Verity?" He wasn't going to ask what she was up to, considering that could involve information it was best he was not privy to. But he could at least ask after her.
Liam	Please. Their record was definitely roughly equal. And if he wanted to try his luck today, he was certainly welcome to. "She's well, all things considered," Liam said. Given that Dominic likely wasn't terribly interested in their domestic life, and also that Liam wasn't entirely sure of the other man's loyalties just yet, he wasn't going to go in to details about their recent decision to move in together.
Dominic	It would definitely put an odd strain on the conversation, that was for certain. For reasons Dominic was all-too willing to not look at very closely. "I suppose that is the best that can be asked for," Dominic conceded. "I suppose it's too much to hope that she's managed to convince anyone to leave?" So far, they were zero for four: Sunil and Rochak, the denizens of the Freakshow, Sarah, and Verity herself.
Liam	"What do you think?" The dragons, too, hadn't been inclined to leave, mostly because William couldn't. Which isn't to say that no one had decided to cut and run, but Liam still wasn't entirely sure where Dominic stood when it came to cryptids that he didn't personally know.
Dominic	No, Liam was wise to be cautious. Even Dominic wasn't entirely sure where he stood right now. Not about anything. He had been raised to be one thing, then learned to be something else just a few months ago. And he while was willing to concede that this new outlook was more moral...habits were hard to break. The Covenant was his family. "Have you ever had to do this?" he asked abruptly. "Repudiate everything you knew and everyone you cared for in order to do what you not believe is right?"
Liam	"Yes and no," Liam said. "I was taken from my biological parents shortly after I was born, and the people who raised me," for lack of a better word, "had a very specific role in mind for me. Things didn't quite turn out the way they wanted."
Dominic	"My biological parents were taken from me," Dominic said softly. "They died on a hunt. The Covenant raised me, fostered me, cared for me. They also had a very specific role in mind for me, one I was raised to believe was an honor." He tilted his head. "How did you turn from your path? Tell me you weren't also led astray by a Price girl." He was smiling slightly, so that was probably a joke?
Liam	"No," Liam said, a hint of amusement in his expression. The truth was, of course, that his true path had been set in motion millions of years ago. But that hadn't meshed with what Doors had expected or wanted of him. "I did make a friend on the other... 'side', as it were. Our relationship was- complicated. Not always positive. He didn't always do the right thing either. But I would have died to protect him, all the same."
Dominic	"And so it goes," Dominic murmured. "They spend years raising you, teaching you, indoctrinating you, and then you go out and meet someone on the other side and suddenly you're thrown into a tailspin of what to believe." A friendly server came by to take their order and Dominic stayed silent until they left, other than putting in his request for a coffee and a slice of quiche. Once they were gone, however, he asked, "A...friend? Like Verity is a...friend?"
Liam	And it was just Liam's luck that he was taking a sip of water as Dominic was speaking. He barely managed to not do a spit-take all over the table. "No," he managed finally, after a good thirty second coughing fit. "God, no. Da'an," and he maybe slurred the stop between the syllables on purpose, so it came out more like 'Don', "was really more of a mentor figure."
Dominic	"Ah," Dominic said with a nod. "I meant no, err, offense," he added, just in case it was needed.
Liam	"No, it’s fine," Liam assured him, giving Dominic a warm smile. "No offense taken. You had no way of knowing, after all."
Dominic	"Do you remain in touch?" Dominic asked, still looking mildly uncomfortable.
Liam	Liam shook his head, warmth giving way to sadness. "He died, about three years ago," he explained. That particular failure was one that Liam would carry with him for a long time.
Dominic	"I am sorry for your loss," Dominic said. "And yet, your resolve continues? Even though he is gone? You have not been swayed by your fellows back to your original way of thinking even without his guidance?"
Liam	Liam was quiet for a moment as he figured out just how much he wanted to say. And how to say it. "Da'an wasn't human," he said, finally. "His people- for the most part- viewed humanity as nothing more than tools to be used to further their own ends. But he was different. To him, we were people. And he truly believed that we could teach them just as much as they could teach us."
Dominic	Dominic frowned, confused. "Forgive me," he said, a little haltingly, "but then what were you learning from him? I presume your own side was of the belief that you were also people as well."
Liam	Well, there were some who had argued that Liam's hybrid status meant he wasn't, not really. "Of course," Liam said. "But many of them took it to extremes similar to the Covenant. That there was no room here for any race but the human race." For a value of 'here' that was another dimension entirely, of course.
Dominic	Dominic winced a bit but nodded. "And he showed you that there were those on the other side who were more than just faceless enemies, but were just like you, save for a quirk of genetics."
Liam	"Precisely," Liam said with a nod of his own. His own 'quirk of genetics' putting him in a uniquely precarious position, of course. But that was a discussion for another time, perhaps. ... Or possibly never, depending on how things went down with the impending Covenant visit.
Dominic	In the pocket of his jacket, slung over the back of the chair and close to the wall, Dominic's phone began to ring. He froze in mid-reach for his coffee. It wasn't a ringtone Liam had ever heard before. Not that Liam had heard Dominic's phone ring more than once or twice, but that ringtone, paired with his reaction left no confusion who was on the other line. He turned away, spine suddenly stiff again, like the spine of the wannabe holy warrior who'd caught Liam's girlfriend in his rooftop snare. He was still there with Liam physically, but he was already gone by the time he'd dug his phone out of the pocket. "De Luca."
Liam	Even though he knew whoever was on the other end of the line couldn't see him, Liam too went still, grey eyes watching silently as Dominic answered the phone.
Dominic	There was a long pause as whoever was on the other end spoke. Then Dominic asked, in a light, rhetorical tone, "If God is occupied with the fall of sparrows then who, on Earth, will count the fall of dragons?" It must have been the right thing to say. There was another pause, and some of the tension went out of his shoulders. "Yes, of course, sir," he said. "Pier A, Seagirt Marine Terminal. Twenty-two hundred hours. Yes, sir. I have arranged for transportation and housing." He paused again. "Yes, sir, I understand. I will bring all my reports thus far for review during the trip to your residence." The next pause was longer. Dominic closed his eyes as it stretched on, chin dipping slightly, so that he looked for all the world like he was praying. Finally, he said, "Yes, sir, I understand the scope of the honor that is being afforded to me. I will not question my privilege. I will not doubt my orders. I will do my best to bring glory to the name of the Covenant, and to the family whose name I bear. Yes, sir. I will be on time." Then he closed the phone. For a moment, he just sat there, eyes still closed, lit by the early winter sun streaming through the window.
Liam	"Dominic?" Liam inquired softly, reaching out with one hand to cover his where it rested on the table.
Dominic	"Don't touch me right now, Liam," he said. His voice was low. "I am betraying someone, right now, and I honestly do not know who it is. So please, I beg you. Do not touch me."
Liam	"Sorry," Liam said, pulling his hand back. "That was the Covenant just now." Yeah, he was stating the obvious. Because he was realizing just how dangerous his friendship with Dominic was. All the other man had to do was say the word, and not only would they have a purge on their hands, but the Covenant would know that the Prices weren't all dead after all. ... And if he was going to do that, he never would have told Verity that a purge was coming in the first place. There was nothing to be gained in thinking that way.
Dominic	"Yes. They're on their way. I've told you when and where they will arrive because I know exactly what you'll do with that information." There was no way that Liam would hear that and not immediately tell Verity. And there was no way Verity would have that information and not take action. "Be careful. Don't let her be seen." He grabbed his jacket off the chair, and tossed money on the table between them. His expression was miserable; no matter what, he was betraying someone and that meant he was not the man he'd thought he was. "I truly do not know whether I'm doing the right thing. But I know that I don't want you getting hurt. Either of you. And I know that nothing I can say will make her leave. So, for me, for my sake, for everything I'm doing...be careful."
Liam	"We'll try," Liam promised. 'Careful' had never really been much of an option for him. Or Verity either. But Dominic clearly didn't think that way.
Dominic	Surprisingly, Dominic laughed. It wasn't a happy sound. "A man from the Covenant of St. George telling a Price woman and her boyfriend to be careful. What is this world coming to?"
Liam	"From what I hear, you've been there a few times before," Liam said wryly. The Price line's continued existence was, ironically, testament to that.
Dominic	Dominic laughed again, even less happily. It sounded bitter and regretful, if anything. "So true. Slightly different circumstances, though." He didn't say anything else as he gathered the rest of his belongings and headed for the door. His goodbye came via text a few minutes after the restaurant door had closed behind him. Take care of each other. Please.