Something to Believe in

[Ethan Carver]

Ethan left the construction site covered in red brick dust and every muscle aching...but a grin curling his lips. He and Finn had been working separate jobs that day, and he'd been angry when it happened. Now he thought that perhaps it had been part of a larger plan. The people he'd been looking for had found him instead. Apparently asking around had made him easy to find. He'd be more cautious in the future, but they'd promised to teach him how. The thought sent energy humming through his body, and he picked up speed.

He wove through the busy streets without sparing much of a glance at anyone he passed; none of them knew him, and he didn't care to know them. There was only one face he wanted to see right now. He took the path back to their usual meeting place without any trouble, and found his brother, Finnian Carver, right where he expected: sitting on the wooden bench outside the bookshop carving something. He couldn't make out what it was, yet. Perhaps another bear? He liked those ones. 

"Hey, Finn," he greeted his brother with a grin and ruffled his hair. He kinda liked it when the kid would stay seated--it meant he got to be the taller brother again for a minute. Reminded him of when they were little. "I've got some good news...but we'd better get back to the inn to talk about it. D'you buy anything for dinner?"

[Finnian Carver]

Finn hated it when they were separated. But, he also understood the need for independence and the fact him and his brother had different skill sets. Sometimes jobs would only need one of them, or both. Ethan hadn't been too thrilled about them working separate jobs either, in fact he was more obvious about it then Finn was. But, they'd gone their separate ways. Ethan to the construction site, and Finn to wonder in search of his own. It hadn't been that difficult, as the book store owner that he was currently in front of had needed help bringing in a new shipment of books she'd ordered and then organizing them.

Finnian and Ethan had visited the store enough that the woman, Hayden, had seemed to relax and become a bit more laid back. Upon their first meeting, Finnian had picked up the fact she was tense if a bit a standoffish in a polite way. She was wary of strangers he realized, specifically males. After a few visits though, she'd warmed up slowly to them, and now the boys were practically regulars. She'd paid him for his help, and he planted himself on the bench in front of her store after going and getting dinner for him and his brother. All safely wrapped up in his bag. He was hunched over, resting his forearms on his knees as he focused on the carving he was doing. He decided to make a bird this time, but hadn't figured out what type yet. The piece of wood he had was still in it's beginning stages, looking like a small brick. The rest of the world faded away save for that piece of would. He was focused on his hands, and how they moved the took across the wood. How the shavings were falling to the ground. His blue eyes never left his work. Everything but that piece of would no longer existed, it was just him, his work, and the silence of his mind.

That is until he felt the touch to his head, and his head jerked up to see Ethan. Zapping him back to reality, he hadn't even noticed his approach. He blinked for a few seconds, gaining his bearings as the rest of the world came back to him. He could hear the street, see some people milling around, faintly hearing Hayden talk to her cat from inside, where she left the shop door open. His eyes did that sweep of the area like he always did, and the buzzing sensation that was always dormant came back. It was like a tingle, a buzz he constantly felt until he focused on something, and it faded away. Luckily, his brother was there, asking him about dinner. He started putting his tools away in his bag, and patted it. "Managed to pick something up." He said with a small smile. He reached into his bag and pulled out a book, handing it up to him, while he ran a hand through his short hair, trying to comb down what Ethan had ruffled. "Hayden says you need to read that one, and she'll consider it a trade if you bring the one you keep talking about back for her." He said relaying the information he'd been given. 

He stood up then, stretching with a small groan before he reached out hand ruffled Ethan's hair. "What's the good news?" He asked his grin growing a bit while he picked his bag up and slung it over his shoulder. 

[Ethan Carver]

Ethan grinned when Finn answered that he'd gotten dinner already. "Great, cuz I'm hungry as hell." His answer was only half the reason he was excited--the faster they were on their way, the faster he could share what he'd learned. What Finn added about Hayden made the grin soften a little as he glanced up into the shop.

"She did, huh? I'll have to bring it along in the morning when I drop you off here," he answered almost absently as he tried to remember what all he'd said to Hayden about the book that made her interested. It was an adventure about the children of the Greek Gods and the trouble they got themselves into. His favorite had been the son of Hades, Bion. The guy was weird, but he never failed to amuse Ethan. And he was a good person, at the end of it all. That was one of the things Ethan liked about books--it was always clear cut who was the hero and who was the villain. There weren't so many blurred lines, and even the hero's flaws didn't mean that he wasn't 'good' in the end.

Finn reaching out to mess up his hair brought him back to reality and he yanked away with a grimace. "Hey, cut that out! I'm a mess as is, man!" He hurriedly pushed his hair back to where it belonged as he started walking in the direction of the inn where the two were staying while they were in the city. "I can't say much about my news while we're out in public, but....you remember those people I was looking for?" He paused and waited for Finn to acknowledge that, then said, "Thing is...they found me. We've got an invite, if you're interested."

[Finnian Carver]

"Mmmhmmm." Finn responded to the mention of Hayden. Picking up instantly the way his brothers smile had softened and he'd glanced inside. He was a bit a curious as to what his brother thought of the bookshop owner. She was around there age from what he gathered, and nice. She certainly liked talking book with Ethan. He didn't draw it out, seeing that there was more important things to discuss.

Finn couldn't help the grin on his face while his brother yanked himself away. Being taller than his big brother was definitely something Finn took immense pleasure in. "Then you won't mind your hair a bit more messed up." He said quickly, before ruffling his hair again just after he'd straightened it to be a little shit. Placing both hands securely around the strap of his bag, he fell easily into step with his brother, making sure to glance at him periodically to stay focused on his and not the business of the street as that buzzing sensation just intensified in the crowds.

His interest was instantly peeked at hearing what Ethan said he nodded his head. His blue eyes doing a quick scan of the people around to makes sure there was no one listening a little too closely or that they were being followed. "They what?" He was a bit caught of guard, and he placed a hand on Ethan's shoulder to help ground himself to him as he glanced behind them, before looking ahead again. Finn's eyes flickering every which way, taking in all the information. They were good. He didn't see anything out of the ordinary, and looked back to Ethan. They'd been looking for this group for ages and they had found them? It seemed a little too good to be true. "Let's wait till we reach the inn." He said quietly. They definitely needed to about this in private.

[Ethan Carver]

Ethan chuckled softly at his brother's reaction. He'd known that would surprise Finn--it had shocked the hell out of him, too. His brother's instinct to keep things quiet was a good one, too. They hadn't got much to lose in material possessions, but he sure as hell wasn't going to let anything happen to his little brother because he'd been careless. After all, there was more than one group out to get the one that he'd met today. But even knowing the danger...he couldn't help being tempted. This was exactly what he'd been looking for: a purpose.

The only thing was, he and Finn had a deal. The Carver brothers didn't do anything unless both of them were in agreement, and he wasn't about to change that now. The two of them had a bond that went beyond just genetics. They'd been through hell and gotten out of it together. So he'd told the Unseelie he couldn't make any promises until he'd talked to Finn first. They'd been surprisingly understanding; he almost got the feeling they'd known exactly what his answer was going to be before he gave it. It would have made him uneasy, if he hadn't already known that he was dealing with a group of powerful mystics.

He quickened his pace as they drew near the in, and didn't even bother with greeting the man at the entrance as he pushed into the main room, up the stairs, and practically ran to their room. He was bursting with energy, and he needed to talk to Finn as soon as possible. Sooner than possible. Two hours ago.

"C'mon Finn," he called, holding the door to their room open and tapping his foot as he waited none to patiently for his brother to catch up.

[Finnian Carver]

His brother was certainly in a hurry, which caused Finn to just lengthen his strides further to keep up with him. Which was funny, considering he was taller then his older brother.  He couldn't help the small smile that appeared on his face as Ethan ran on ahead to their room, shaking his head slightly with a sigh. 

"I'm comin, I'm comin," He murmured as he finally reached the door, unable to help himself as he nudge his brother on the way in. "That good of news to turn you into a jumping bean? I haven't seen you like this since we met Hayden and she put you through the ringer."  He told him. It was a quick jab. Wanting to know more about his brothers feelings for the bookstore owner but also to find out what exactly was going on with his brother and this news. 

He would listen to Ethan as he began to talk, taking in everything he said while he dished out their dinner which consisted of some fresh bread, cheese and some pieces of rotisserie chicken he'd been able to score. He sat on the end of his bed then while he finally looked up at his brother. 

[Ethan Carver]

Ethan grinned at the comment about Hayden. His brother wasn't wrong--the bookstore owner hit him in all the right ways with that sass of hers and her sly smiles. And if he was reading her right, she liked him too. But every time he thought they were getting somewhere, she backed right off again, keeping him off balance and stumbling along behind her. He couldn't help it, he was on the hook. But that didn't mean he wasn't going to get the upper hand eventually.

He didn't comment back on that, though, just launched into what had happened: how one of his coworkers had gotten them assigned as partners on a task that took them way away from the others to pick up some supplies. The man had spent that time telling him all about the Unseelie--the mystics who were ready to take back the life that had been stolen from them by the murdering king. And they wanted Finn and Ethan to join.

"Thing is...they want us to stay in town. Sounds like they've got some big plans coming up, and they want people around that are on their side. They'll let us come out to where they're staying for a few days, get some training, and meet the guy in charge...but then we'd be right back here, pretending like nothing changed." He raised an eyebrow at his brother. "What do you think? You willing to fight and kill for this cause? Be a part of what's coming? They think it's going to be a real war, Finn."