Open Finished Suite 3A Is Not Very Sweet

"Tomas, a bright future?" Zoraida stated incredulously, amused at the thought of her psychotic sibling having a bright anything, besides maybe, a bright prison cell preferably somewhere far away, where he couldn't cause any more trouble. "You must have come from a place where dubious morals are a quality worth having then." Zoraida surmised as she watched Altizica, quietly deciding whether to trust him or not. She had a definite feeling that he was probably just as evil (or more) as her brother even though he seemed friendlier, politer, and even more reasonable than Tomas.

"Payment?" Zoraida asked coolly, now highly suspicious again of Altizica's motives, "Why would I pay you to find someone I have very little interest in?" she stated calmly, getting up from the desk she was leaning against, standing up straight, not letting herself be intimidated, "I wasn't the one who put my money or misguided trust in a morally corrupt individual, who I assume you know curses people and revives the dead for fun?" Zoraida said as she stared at Altizica.

Standing still as Altizica stepped closer to her and inspected her, Zora looked up and met his gaze calmly, "I have the look of somebody who doesn't regret the mistakes she has made..." she said evenly, Zora was certainly not about to make any shady deals with strange demons, gods or otherworldly beings. Those things she knew about, experience had taught her that, and that was something she was not about to do again. There were never any deals that didn't have some kind of condition or consequence.

@Arcadia

"The open cosmos..." Zoraida said regarding Altizica with awe and growing consternation as she slowly realised that the man before her was indeed otherworldly, and that her brother had actually managed to tick off somebody who could probably crush him like a fly. "Great going little brother.." she thought to herself.

Hearing Altizica explain that finding Tomas was enough payment for him, made her feel somewhat better, at least she felt less uneasy. Although, she still wasn't sure how she could help at the moment, and even though Tomas had tried in the past to curse her - and probably do away with her - she was not sure she wanted anything permanent - like death - happening to him - at least not yet.

"By the way, Mr. Altizica... what do you plan to do to my brother if I help you," she asked, deliberately ignoring his seal the deal comment for now. "You didn't really say. While I don't have any real interest in him, I don't wish to see him dead either."

@Arcadia

Zora nodded in understanding, biting her bottom lip now - an unconscious habit when she was nervous - as she considered Altizica's words about her dealing with Tomas because if he had to the consequences or outcome might not be "very favourable". She wasn't exactly sure how she'd "deal" with Tomas now that her magic was wonky, but she'd figure it out. Besides, she doubted that telling anybody about her problem was a good idea - especially somebody like Altizica - and might be dangerous for her in the long run if her brother found out.

"Not a problem," Zoraida said with an understanding nod, glad for a moment to gather herself, when Altizica's phone rang and he excused himself to answer it. Following him with her gaze as he walked over to one side of the room, Zora noted how his whole demeanour suddenly changed and became less threatening, intrigued by this, she caught the words "daddy" and "love you", and found herself smiling.

"Family?" she asked curiously when Altizica turned around and asked what they were talking about.

"Oh, and yes, what exactly did you want from my brother when I find him?" Zoraida inquired, now quite curious about the dark imposing stranger, leader of a cult, and possibly, if she heard right, a loving father.

@Arcadia

"You... have a daughter?!" Zoraida said, very surprised to hear that he had adopted a child. "That's so nice. How old is she?" she asked genuinely interested in knowing a bit more. She'd have never thought Altizica was the sort. Maybe because he seemed, well, rather menacing in an oddly polite way.

"Would this crystal of yours be pretty or interesting in any way?" Zoraida asked Altizica, having a pretty good idea why Tomas might have chosen to keep something like that even though it was useless to him. The man loved collecting beautiful things, especially ones nobody else had. He was, as their mother used to say, like a crow...drawn to shiny objects. "My brother likes to collect beautiful items, he surrounds himself with them," she said rolling her eyes at this. "His house often feels like a museum of shiny objects."

Despite everything that was happening, the weirdness of this visit, the unpleasant surprise of an office that wasn't fit to house a hobo and the knowledge that her brother had probably crossed a demon or god, Zoraida actually found herself relaxing and somewhat enjoying this unexpected person and his visit. "I honestly think we are always children in our parents' minds...and I suspect she is lucky to have you and you, her... " Zoraida said having noticed how different Altizica was when talking about his daughter.

"Well, if the crystal isn't pretty looking, the only other guess I have is that somehow he discovered it's value, or he has decided to use it as a vessel for a curse or binding spell." Zoraida surmised, neither option a good one in her mind actually. She had a good idea of what drove Tomas and how twisted he could be. Although, the reasoning behind such acts gave her a headache. As it was only something another mad person might truly understand.

"Luckily for you. If the crystal has been cursed, I can normally tell, though I don't have the ability to remove the curse so, well, I'm afraid you are on your own there." Zoraida stated with an apologetic shrug.

@Arcadia