Cautious

Chloe's run-in with Xavier had shaken her. She was taking extreme measures again, which tended to make people think she was paranoid. Chloe preferred to see it as managing risk. For example, she didn't want to be exposed walking between classes. If she had an enemy trying to kill her or see her killed, they didn't mind launching attacks in public, at school, in broad daylight. So she had Ozzy or Nona just carry portals to her classrooms, so she never had to walk a dangerous hallway or be in public any more than was required of her.

Chloe wanted to meet with Jude, because she wanted help understanding this thing that happened, and Jude was the Halcyon native she was most comfortable speaking to. He even seemed to know Xavier, and his relationship with Alma spoke to his good character. But Chloe still wanted to be as... In control of their meeting place as possible, after what had happened.

So they would be meeting at Malara's penthouse, Chloe's current home. Malara herself was at work, and the girls were still at school.

Nonabtaob would meet him by the elevator. "You are Angelo, yes? Chloe told me to thank you for coming to meet her. I am Nona, and I am here to protect her."

She had a followup question, once the elevator ride began. "Are you armed?" And if he said no, she would still frisk him, leaving some damp spots on his clothes. If he was armed, she would tell him to give her the weapon.

As soon as Nona saw the gun, most of her body became water. A human-shaped, standing-upright mass of fluid, rippling, turbulent, staring back at him with empty eyes.

It took her a second to process this situation - the younger Angelo was volunteering information that made him a bigger threat. A power that she never would have found on her own, and which he could have used to kill Chloe if he had wanted. And he had suggestions on how to neutralize himself!

The rippling died down, and she slowly returned to her human form. "Tch. Just like a man to pull out his gun where it isn't wanted. You startled me."

Did she just...?

Yes. And judging by that smirk, she was quite proud of herself for making the comparison.

"I'll be taking that." She held an expectant hand out for his gun. "And... thank you for telling me about it. We'll figure something out."

It was a fairly tall building. The elevator ride would last a little longer still, giving Nona enough time to make another comment. "You should grow your hair out more, like your counterpart. It would look prettier."

Nona would start to say something, but the elevator door opening interrupted her.

Chloe would be on the other side, a weak smile on her face. "Jude. Thanks for coming. I... really do appreciate it." They weren't quite on hugging terms, but she nodded at him, and gestured for him to come in. Nona would stay right next to him, watching him like a hawk, occasionally dripping water on the floor.

"Drinks in the fridge if you want any. Help yourself." There was beer, decaffeinated soda, juice, and milk. He might notice a few packages of meat that he wouldn't want to think too hard about, if he took a look around in there.

"How are you and your dad doing?"

"I've been better." She laughed, once. It was bitter, and she washed it down with a sip from the already opened bottle of beer she had sitting by one of the living room chairs. She sat down sideways in it, resting her feet on an armrest.

"This isn't the first time I've had my life threatened. The thing is, I sorta hoped that'd make this easier, like I'd start getting used to it? But it's worse. I almost made Amber wear a raincoat to school, since... You know. But then anyone paying attention to her would know too, so that could just make her less safe. Plus that might be overreacting."

With Jude's hand occupied, Nona went to grab a towel. She laid it down over part of the couch before sitting there. She kept a close eye on Jude throughout, to a point where it was obvious, and may have been a little unsettling.

Chloe stared at the wall for a second. She didn't want this to be a thing she got used to. That would involve continuing to behave like this, to hide like this and to cancel plans, for months on end. She sipped at her beer again.

"They did arrest him. But... I don't know how much of the rumors you've heard, or if he told you, but it was your friend Xavier."

Was friend the right word to use? She might have been getting Xavier mixed up with Gabriel - she'd heard Jude was dating one of those guys, but she could never keep them straight in her head.

"That's kind of why I wanted to meet you, since I'm still trying to understand it. I know some of those guys used to be... villainy mercenary types." Which implied Xavier may have been hired, which meant the person paying him wasn't arrested, and he was still out there.

But so much of that idea didn't seem to add up, unless Xavier just wasn't very smart - showing his face like that and giving her the chance to talk about it. It was screwy. The whole situation was screwy, and Chloe didn't understand it, so she didn't know how to gauge her paranoia. It was the uncertainty that was getting to her.