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Reality Fault

Realms: Idlewild Logs

March 21

Mar 21 2004

After Lotte has her say with the Kip, the little dark-haired Fall elf currently pinned to the floor by Seodil and Sol, the redheaded bard grins at Kip. Cheerfully, she says "That's all I had to say; I'm done." Sol looks up and smiles at those standing. "Anyone else have words or conditions before we let him back up?"

Aiden shakes his head. "Not I. Let him back up?" Aiden's still standing where he was when Kip was threatening him and then got buried.

"We're letting him back up? He was going to BREAK people! We can't let him up." Lauren ventures forward to poke Kip in the ribs with a bare big toe.

Sol says, "Fine by me. Steven? You're the one he punched."

Kip narrows his dark eyes at Lauren. "Don't touch me."

Lauren looks down at Kip. "Fine. Never again. But an apology would be good."

Aiden says, "Lauren, I suspect he's changed his mind by now."

"Shh," Lauren says. "If he's been repentant already, I missed it."

Soft and pleading, Zhi says "It's really my fault... if you want an apology, Lady Lauren, I'd be happy to oblige. Shall I kneel?" He does, on one knee, and takes her hand as he smiles up at her. "Please? I'm sorry."

Lauren melts, in a pathetically predictable fashion, going all pink and fluttery at Zhi. "...Oh, well then. I'm sure it's all right, you didn't mean for anything to go wrong." She giggles. GIGGLES!

Steven shakes his head. "I have no objections. As long as he doesn't try that again."

Aiden glances at Seodil and Sol, rolling his eyes at Lauren's giggling as he does. He says. "Please?"

Kip darts a look at Aiden and says grudgingly, "Yes, I've changed my mind." He glances at Zhi. "You big blue idiot."

Sol nods to Aiden, and releases his shorter captive. Seodil is a moment slower, but follows suit. Kip sits up, rubbing his arms, then stands. He looks smaller when he's not furious; he couldn't be taller than 5'6". Still grudging, Kip mutters "Thank you."

Lauren gets herself under control and tones down the giggly long enough to get a good look at Kip. They come short, too. Well, that's a relief.

Zhi beams at Lauren and kisses the back of her hand before he stands. He does not release it, keeping a casual hold on it. "Well. I for one am glad I met you, folk of Winter; you're really very kind. I'd like to invite you all to visit our little enclave anytime you like... we really don't have that much to do, and less grumpy conversation would be darling."

Aiden nods at Kip, "No problem." He glances back at Zhi and Lauren, who are apparently still cooing over each other. He can't help the nagging worry in the back of his mind that Zhi would be every bit as mean-spirited as Kip if it wasn't for Lotte's spell.

Zhi continues to be friendly and outgoing-- and seems to have forgotten to let go of Lauren's hand. As he chatters and invites the others to take part, time drifts by. Sol and Seodil both make polite, quiet farewells and drift off-- at different times and in different directions. Aiden stays quiet, letting the others do the talking as he moves to a farther couch. Lunch arrives, and Zhi starts tossing apples idly at Kip.

Kip's polite, somewhat blank expression does not change, and he does not take much part in the talk unless asked a direct question, but he catches and sends back every apple lobbed at him without apparent ire. Before long, a chain of at least seven apples is being juggled between the silent Fall elf and the chatty one. It continues til Zhi regretfully makes his farewells-- not without giving very clear directions to where he's staying, and repeating the offer to visit. Neatly catching the apples and stacking them in a pyramid on the table, Kip bows stiffly and makes polite farewell as they go.

As soon as the Fall elves go, Aiden quietly drifts out of the common room before anyone notices him go.

Sol and Seodil have not returned.

"I liked them," purrs Lauren, still in a bit of a haze, before she notices that she's almost hte only one still in the room. "...Steven? Where is everyone?"

Steven is quite surprised at the display of agility and hand-eye-coordination, and he decides, silently, that he should consider himself lucky that Kip didn't land an even harder blow. He blinks at Lauren's question, and looks around. "... Uh? I'm not sure. They all seem to have gone to their rooms...." He sounds confused by this.

Lotte looks around and shrugs. "Feeling antisocial?"

Lauren sighs, her mood deflating. "They're all, um, dating, right?"

Steven says, "Uhm.... It's... hard to explain." He looks around. "I know Aiden and Sol were... are seeing each other... usually. I'm... not sure how Seodil fits into the picture."

Lotte says helpfully, "I think Seodil has a crush on Aiden."

"Oh." Lauren shifts uncomfortably in her seat. "All three, huh? Huh."

Steven blinks... just blinks... at Lotte. He says nothing.

Lauren tucks her ears back under her hair, a nervous fidgetting gesture. "Of course it's all right, you know, I have no problem with it."

Steven lifts his shoulders. "It doesn't really bother me, mind you... until you get times when it causes friction."

Lotte stifles a cough.

Lauren stands up. "I think I'm going to go for a walk," she says too fast. "Is the garden safe?"

Lotte says, "Safe how? I think there's no sex in it... I don't see anyone from here."

Lauren says, "I mean, are there carnivorous plants or whatever?"

Steven blinks to Lauren. "It... should be, yes. Just don't pick any flowers, just in case. The garden here in our rooms hasn't done anything to us." Yet.

Steven considers. he can go back to his room... with the luggage... or he can stay here and try to find something to do, or he can do somethign else. he shrugs. "If you want I can show you around this little area, Lauren. I don't want to go too far away after some of the things they've shown us here, but I can point out some of what we've been told.

Lauren smiles. "That sounds nice," she says, sounding grateful. "I'm feeling kinda lost around here."

Steven smiles and nods. "Sure. Same here, we were pretty much told not to wander around too much."

Lotte yawns and says, "I think I need a nap... see you guys. Wake me for dinner, please?" She wanders into her room.

Lauren nods. "Sure. C'mon, Steven."

Steven nods, getting up and walking with Lauren.

The nearest garden, directly across from the suite door, is mostly moss, soft perfect grass, and ivy. Intricately carved, ancient-looking curved marble benches rest here and there, and the scent of flowers drifts pleasantly out. Closer, a wealth of tiny star-shaped white blossoms is visible among all the greenery. A small path winds through it, allowing a walker to get deeper in and hide among tall cloud-like triangular bushes.

Soft footsteps sound ahead, and a flash of long pink hair is visible at the center of the garden behind one of the cloud-bushes.

Steven blinks a bit, and murmurs to Lauren, "That might be Clairchiare."

Lauren whispers urgently to Steven. "That's Cla--oh. Right."

Lauren ventures forward a bit. Hey, it's not like they're doing anything WRONG.

Steven is still considering when Lauren moves forward, then he shrugs to himself. It certainly can't hurt. The worst that will happen is that they get told to be careful. He moves forward with her.

A passing breeze blows a long strand of cotton-candy pink hair into art nouveau shapes as they approach. Rounding the edge of the concealing bush, they see a slender shape veiled in pink hair down to its toes, facing away from them, doing something to the ivy wall in front of it.

Lauren swats a hand at Steven and puts her finger to her lips in the universal signal to shush. She leans to one side, trying to get a better angle of view. This is a wierd place, and it would not suprise her to see the pink elf somehow having marital relations with the ivy.

Lauren notices immediately that the pink-haired elf tamely picking flowers out of the ivy is female.

"Oh," Lauren says, settling back on her heels. "It's not him, Steven."

Steven blinks and nods, keepinghis mouth shut and not saying anything. He glances at Clairchiare curiously, or whom he thinks is Clairchiare, or thought. "Who is it, then?"

Lauren says, "I have no idea. I just got here, remember? It's...a pink girl."

A moment later, as if warned, the elf turns and widens pale copper eyes at them. She puts a hand to her mouth, looking startled, then smiles and steps forward hesitantly. "Oh... Is this your garden? I have not come this way in several hands of years, but I wanted starflowers..."

It might have been the noise of conversation that warned her.

Steven looks abashed and sheepish, nodding, then blinks. "Oh! no, not at all, I mean... it's not our garden..."

Lauren holds up her hands protectively. "It's not mine!" she says at once. "Have the flowers. Have all you want!"

The lovely elf blinks back. "No? Then I suppose no one will mind if I take some for my tea..." She gives Lauren an odd look before it smooths politely. "..Thank you. Are you guests of the court? I don't recognize you, and I know I would remember your faces." She smiles warmly at Steven.

"Are we?" Lauren mumbles from the side of her mouth. "We are, aren't we? I hope we are."

Steven says, "Er... yes, we are, actually. We only just arrived a week or two ago."

The pink elf smiles, then says "I shall not disturb you long, then... I almost have enough. Did you know that if you add these to hot water, it aids sleep and eases worry? A gentle remedy. I fear I am much worried of late... you do know that the princess is missing, of course?"

Lauren nods. "We, eh, we heard. Were you friends?"

Steven blinks a little, and the warning of the Prince comes back to him. he is about to say somethign to the effect of 'Really? What have you heard?' and then stops himself at Lauren's words. Then he wonders, who is this person who knows that?

The pink elf nods sadly. "Everyone loved her. We fear the worst, these days; I heard that it happened when the Winter Prince arrived, and as all know, that court is fearsome." She shivers delicately.

Steven s quite glad they didn't identify themselves as Winter courtiers. "I'd... I admit, I've not heard much of what people say about Winter."

The lovely stranger brushes back cotton-candy hair and blinks her metallic copper eyes. In a low voice, she says "I would be quite terrified to be alone with them! If you have not heard the tales of what they have done to us in war... you will sleep better at night."

"Really?" It's Lauren's turn to shiver. "Like killing people in their beds, poisoning food, that sort of thing?"

Lauren reaches out to tug off a few clumps of the little white starflowers. Gonna need 'em.

Steven looks somewhat discomfited. "Er, really? It's probably better that I don't know, then..."

Copper eyes meet Lauren's. "They loved to take captives... only another elf is as sturdy as an elf, and our warriors lasted longer than Winter's other playthings. It is an art with them, to strip the skin from a living body and touch the naked muscle... to take apart a person bit by bit until they are naught but bone wrapped in vein. I hear that the most accomplished challenged each other to keep their victims alive longest."

Steven knows it's a bad thing to do this, or at least not terribly ethical. But that part of him is warring badly with his curiosity. He just hopes this person won't be too horribly shocked when she learns the truth.

Steven procedes to wish his curiosity was a little better-behaved.

With a shiver and a shaky little laugh, the strange lady says "I should go back and brew my tea, I think... I have woken too many old memories here, and speaking of something can bring it closer to the present, no? I wish you both pleasant dreams... and safety from that frozen court." She turns and slips off, arms hugging herself.

"Th-thanks," says Lauren, crushing her double fistfuls of foliage. "They sound like WONDEFUL people." And they killed my car!

Steven winces, and sighs. "I think... we need to talk to the others."

Lauren shakes her head emphatically. "I don't want to go back! Soleil already hates me...he's going to kill us!"

Steven says, "... Lauren, I've been with them for several months, now. They're not going to kill us. If you think about it, that could very well be propaganda from past wars between Summer and Winter."

Steven says, "That being said, I want to find out where the 'seed of truth' that blossomed into that propaganda came from."

Lauren glances longingly down the path--to the south, where Zhi said he was staying.

Lauren sighs, resigning herself to being flayed and dissected. "Fine," she says. "We can go back, and when I don't come to breakfast you'll know why."

Steven grimaces, and isn't entirely sure how to answer that.

"Come on," Lauren says briskly, stumping back to the apartments. "Let's get this over with."

Steven sighs, and follows Lauren back to the apartment.

Aiden's already back in the suite, sitting on the couch, leaned back and staring off into space like he's lost in thought. Sol's sitting next to him, but in wolf form. He's got his chin resting on Aiden's thigh and Aiden's scritching him behind the ears.

Seodil's door is shut, as is Lotte's.

Lauren plops her handful of flowers down on what's usually the breakfast table and starts rooting clumsily around for something to heat water with, or in. Everything about her body language screams 'anxiety attack staved off by the mighty powers of denial'.

Steven sighs, and looks from Lauren to Aiden. "We... ran into someone in the garden."

Aiden frowns, "Lauren? Are you alright?" He glances up when Steven mentions meeting someone. "Oh?"

Lauren turns up exactly nothing of use; the dishes that appeared with the meals have vanished again wherever dirty elven dishes go. The only water sources appear to be the warm soaking pool in front of the couches, and the shower back in each bedroom's connecting bathroom.

"Pink girl," Lauren mumbles. "In the garden. Summer."

Steven says, "Yes.... she was getting starflowers to calm herself down. She'd heard the princess had been missing, and that it had happened around the time the Winter Prince arrived."

Aiden nods, "Didn't Clairchiare say that's why he rushed us back here? Someone took advantage of him leaving to get us in order to nab the Princess."

With a snort, Lauren swipes the starflowers up and chucks them into the soaking pool. In short order she joins them, fully clothed.

Steven adds, "Yes, but, she was... fairly disturbed at--" He pauses to stare at Lauren, then shakes his head. "Fairly disturbed at the prospect of meeting anyone from Winter. There's some bad history, apparently. Very bad. From the wars Summer had with Winter."

The golden wolf sprawled across Aiden's lap sighs.

Steven sits in a chair nearby the two, sighing. "She told us some of what she'd been told. Look, Sol, I know it's all exaggeration, I bet people in Winter said much the same things about Summer, too.

Aiden says, "You ought to read the diary that I read in the library, Steven. I'm not surprised, honestly."

Sol's furry head nods slowly, agreeing.

"What's Summer done that compares to skinning and mutilating people?" asks Lauren, doing a lovely impression of a teabag. "I mean, really."

Seodil answers. "The very same things, Lauren, I assure you. Why do you ask?"

Aiden looks over at Seodil, then nods a bit, saying, mostly to himself, "Suspected as much."

The silver elf walks out and considers the fully-clothed, very wet Lauren in the soaking pool after nodding to Aiden.

Lauren says, "...pink girl said so.""

Sol closes his eyes and leans on Aiden's leg.

Steven says, "We met someone in the garden who was... upset... at the prospect of being alone in the same room as Winter court people."

Sounding puzzled, Seodil said "A pink girl told you to-- oh. The torture, of course."

Settling on the couch next to Steven-- the only free spot besides Lauren's flower-strewn pool-- Seodil says, "I have met no one on my roamings alone. I was beginning to wonder if there was anyone else here. I suppose it is comforting that you saw a new face. You said... pink?" He hesitates. "Pink in what way?"

Lauren glowers from the pool, despite the supposedly calming starflowers she's marinating in. "Yes," she says. "The TORTURE."

Aiden shrugs slightly. "I'm not sure. I wasn't there."

Seodil's eyebrows rise at Lauren. "Oh, there is no torture in your world?"

Steven says, "Her hair. Down almost to her feet. She said she hadn't been there in several hundred years. And, no, torture is... not generally done in our world. Or at least in our civilization it's not approved of." He grimaces. "Not to say that it isn't done..."

"It's a fucking war crime," Lauren explains coldly.

Sol shifts, suddenly a young man in leather pants stretched across the couch with his head in Aiden's lap. Looking up at Aiden, he says "You smell of violets," and smiles wistfully.

Aiden nods. "I should explain." He glances over at Seodil. "I went for a walk. I thought I saw you. It wasn't you... but.. I met someone in a garden near here."

Seodil chuckles to Lauren, "It is not particularly friendly here either... but as Steven says, these things do happen." He glances back at Steven with a small frown and looks about to say something, then stops, looking at Aiden.

Aiden continues, "I was following him and he turned into the garden.. and there she was. She called herself Whisper and she was braiding violets into her hair."

"I wandered that way," says Seodil, waving in the opposite direction from Aiden's earlier stroll. "Who was it, if not me? Are they accepting the pale these days?" His tone is a little too light.

Aiden says, "He was in wolf form, Seodil. I can't be absolutely sure, but I lifted my head, and he was there, by the time I drew a breath he was gone, just like that. I looked around and found him further from me than he should've been able to get and he seemed to be leading me, so I followed."

Seodil frowns. "And you were led to this Whisper? I did not think that Summer's sentiments toward shapeshifting had changed. They prefer illusion to risking true change... but she could be your wolf, Aiden, all the same. What did she want of you?"

Steven blinks, confused. "Whisper?"

Steven says, "An... unusual name, isn't it?"

Lauren looks completely lost--too busy trying to figure out what the hell everyone is talking about to stay frightened and angry.

Aiden says, "She couldn't have been. Her eyes had pupils."

Aiden says, "She didn't seem to want anything of me. I startled her. She spoke to me a while.. invited me to join her at a function in two days."

Sol says dryly, "I am not that familiar with Summer, but it does sound a little od--" he blinks at Aiden. "You saw Steven's ghost?"

Aiden nods at Sol. "I think so."

Steven frowns at mention of 'Your wolf.' That just confuses him even more when Aiden talks abouther having pupils. "Excuse me... what do you mean, Aiden's wolf? If it's not too personal?

Sol gains a somewhat indignant tone. "And his friend invited you to a party."

Seodil explains to Steven, "I meant only the wolf that Aiden saw, who he thought at first was me."

Steven says, "Okay... and why is her having pupils significant?"

Aiden looks at Steven. "The wolf didn't."

Steven blinks, and nods a little. "I... see.

Aiden nods at Sol. "Yeah, she did.."

Seodil looks at Steven. "When I sleep in your room tonight, to see if the ghost appears to me at dawn... are you going to be there as well, or have..." he glances at Aiden.. "...plans changed, and I will not be joining you?"

Aiden looks down at the ground.

Steven blinks. "Ah... I don't mind, myself...er, either way...." Oh, hells, what to do....

Quietly, Seodil says "The ghost appeared to you, Steven. I will sleep on the couch."

Aiden shakes his head, "Don't. Not on my behalf. I'd forgotten about it. I'll stay out here."

Sol shifts without fanfare back to a wolf, and rests his muzzle on Aiden'n knee.

Lauren, feeling very fifth-wheel, sinks down to her chin in the pool.

Steven clenches his hand, and nods. Thanks... all of you, really. You're really contributing to making our time in Summer safer -- after countless warnings about how we need to be careful, need to be cautious, need to think straight, need to watch what the HELL we do. I can't even say 'work it out' without worrying that one of you will take it the wrong way, and if it's Seodil, without worrying about him cutting my head off or something.

Seodil shrugs, "Honestly, Aiden, I would rather it this way." Time has passed; dusk draws near, and dinnertime, as the shadows stretch outside. "Perhaps Steven saw him for a reason. I worry that changing too many things might change our result." He smiles, not unkindly at all.

Aiden doesn't see it. He's focused on the floor. He hasn't looked up since he looked down. He nods faintly. "Alright.."

Steven looks towards his room, catching a slight hint of movement there. Frowning slightly, he stands and quietly walkls over, looking in, wondering if the furniture is rearranging itself again.

Lauren's eyelids droop. She finds a comfy place to slouch against the side of the pool, and cozily let all this wierd shit just wash softly over her.

Steven's skin feels colder as he reaches the doorway. The chest has not moved... but a pale, slightly translucent figure stands looking back at Steven with pupilless white eyes. The monk recognizes Setisel from this morning.

Steven gives a start, shivering as he stands in the doorway, staring at Setisel. He swallows, trying to regain his thoughts and order them. He stammers in a low voice, "Why... why are you here...?"

Lauren snerts awake. "Mwha? Moops?"

Setisel's voice raises the hair on the back of Steven's neck. "Save my granddaughter." He vanishes.

Steven feels the sun sink below the horizon.

"Moopy?" Lauren scrubs her eyes free of water, squinting around. Why is everyone tense, she wonders.

In Aiden's lap, Sol whines as the hair on his ruff stands up. He shivers and raises his head off Aiden's leg, ears back.

Aiden frowns, lifting his head to look around when Sol whines, tense..

Steven's jaw has simply dropped.

Lauren climbs soggily out of the pool, gauzy skirts a clumpy mass. She yawns widely. "What just happened?"

Seodil frowns as well, and fixes his gaze on Steven. "Steven? Is your luggage acting up again?"

Aiden says, "Steven? You okay?"

Steven shivers, and nods slowly. Suddenly a lot of things are coming into sharper focus. Hebacks slowly out of the room. "He... it was him. he said... no, he commanded... 'Save my granddaughter.'

Seodil blinks, then stares, then looks sort of helpless before he says "I don't have any children!"

Aiden looks up at Seodil. "Well.. That leaves one other suspect."

Steven says, "It...it must be another Averet, then. But Clairchiare doesn't have any children, either....." he blinks. "How... how old is the princess?""

Clairchiare swings brightly into the room around the corner, humming. He looks up at the group, smiling, "Am I in time to join you for d--" and stops, looking worried. "What's wrong?"

Lauren blinks. "Everyone's nuts," she supplies.

Clairchiare grins at Lauren. "Oh, you'll get used to us."

Aiden looks over at Clairchiare, "Evening. You should probably just go straight to sitting down.."

Warily, Clairchiare raises a hand to straighten his long pink hair. "Why?" He starts walking toward the empty couch seat by Seodil, though.

Lauren drips. "You've got a niece, I think."

Aiden says, "Our help has been requested in finding the Princess. I don't suppose that you could.. maybe.. tell us what she looks like? Something? We don't really have much to go on here. She could walk up and slap one of us and we'd have no idea who she was."

Clairchiare stops halfway to the couch and appears to really look at Lauren for the first time. "You're soaked." He looks at Seodil. "I do? You have a daughter?" He sounds delighted. His head turns to Aiden next. "Oh... I'm sorry. Very light pink hair down past her feet, she keeps it looped up in braids if she can, and... golden skin, pale... blue eyes. About..." he frowns and touches the center of his chest, "This tall."

Steven blinks. Long... pink... hair.

Steven knows that they hadn't met the princess, the person they met had copper eyes, but.... The coincidences are starting to freak him out.

"We saw her in the garden," Lauren blurts immediately.

Aiden nods. "Anything else you can tell us that might be important? At the moment, our only chance of finding her is hoping that she wanders in here and announces herself." Aiden's tone is slightly to this side of irritated and it's obvious he's trying to stay polite, but he's had enough of being kept in the dark at the same time that he's being asked to do important things.

Lauren amends herself. BLUE eyes. Don't be STUPID. "Maybe. Or...actually no." She blushes a deep embarassed pink.

Steven says, "THe person we met in the garden had long pink hair but copper eyes." He thinks, Her mother? Then... wait... wait wait wait... First off, pink hair... too much pink going on here...."

Clairchiare startles badly and whips around to Lauren. "Where?!" His eyes are full of a desperate hope that dies as Lauren corrects it. He covers his face for a moment, head sagging forward, then drops his hands, looking older. In a dull voice, he says to Aiden, "She's beautiful in her own way, but her detractors say she has a plain face. She moves like a breeze, smells faintly of lavender... she's... girl-shaped... she might be pregnant, we were trying..." He blinks suddenly at Steven's words. On the couch, Seodil stiffens. "Copper eyes? That's my mother."

Steven says, "... Uhoh."

Aiden cocks his head off to the side. "We were trying?" He winces when Clairchiare says that Steven and Lauren met his mother in the garden.

Clairchiare looks dully at Aiden for a moment before clarity returns to his eyes... along with horror. His lips part, but nothing comes out. He looks around at the room... Aiden, Sol, Seodil, Steven, Lauren.

"Oh, god," Lauren whimpers, settling down onto the floor and rubbing her temples. "What a mess. M'sorry, Clairchiare."

Aiden keeps his voice as soft and non-confrontational as he can. "Clairchiare? Can you tell us what's going on here?"

Steven suddenly realizes something, based on Clairchiare's reaction: this just got about a hundred and thirty-nine times more complicated. "Maybe... we should take this to a room whose door we can close," he says qiuetly.

Aiden nods at Steven. "Good idea."

Looking very much like he wants to say "no" to Aiden, Clairchiare nods and stumbles on his way toward Seodil's room, barely catching himself in time.

Aiden stands and follows Clairchiare off towards Seodil's room. Because he got up almost as soon as Clairchiare did, he's nearly next to him when he stumbles. Aiden reaches quickly, and without putting any conscious thought into it at all, to put a hand under Clairchiare's elbow to steady him. He drops his voice and whispers something to the pink elf.

Lauren wobbles over to Steven, and bends to whisper something to him.

Sol follows Aiden on four paws. Seodil drifts to Clairchiare's other side and takes his free arm, as the cotton candy elf turns to nod at Aiden.

Steven frowns a little at the whisper, but follows the group in as well.

Lauren bobs a short, dispirited nod, and drifts numbly into the smaller room.

Once they actually get into the room, and Clairchiare is settled, Aiden leans against the closed door.

The door shut behind them, the rest of the group clusters around the foot of Seodil's bed. Clairchiare sinks to sit on the mattress and whispers, "What do you want to know?" He still looks shocky.

Aiden says, "Anything that will help us find her.."

Clairchiare wails, softly, "I don't know! If I knew that I'd have her back by now!" He looks about ready to cry.

Aiden sighs softly. "Clairchiare.. I'm sorry.. I have to ask, so that we know.. It may help. We've had some.. intervention. Is the child yours?"

"Yes," Clairchiare says simply, and waits.

Aiden nods. He looks over at Seodil. "I'm going to talk to the girl I met in the garden again in two days. I don't think it was an accident."

Steven lets out a silent breath. Okay. Interesting... he wanted, specifically, his granddaughter saved... but not the princess? He might not be bound to her the way he is to the granddaughter.

Seodil nods slowly, and looks at Lauren and Steven. "If you encountered my mother, it was no accident then either. She wanted something. Aiden? Did yours want anything of you other than your return?"

Lauren says, "She wanted starflowers, that's what she said," Lauren offers helplessly. "And to warn us about Winter. That's all.""

Aiden shakes his head, "Conversation. Nothing more, it seemed. She was nervous about Winter, but seemed open minded and unwillng to lump all of Winter into the misconceptions."

Lauren hmps. "She didn't realize we were with Winter, though."

Steven says, "No, we... neglected to mention that."

Clairchiare looks woodenly at Lauren and Steven. "Starflowers are a muscle relaxant and mild hallucinogen... to the elven, that is." He frowns. "She warned you about Winter? She knows full well that we have Winter guests, and she is no fool. She surely knew who you were, I fear..." he grimaces suddenly, and says quietly "Lauren. Why did you put starflowers in the pool?"

Steven blins, then grimaces. "Wonderful. She played it quite well. I wonder what she was fishing for... or trying to do.

Seodil frowns at Aiden, but Sol shifts back to elven and beats him to it. "Be careful. I don't want you to go back to see her alone, Aiden."

Aiden frowns, "Wait a second. I thought she was gone."

Lauren picks a petal out of her skirts. "She said they were calming and helped you sleep. I needed a little calming. They're hallucinogenic? God..."

Clairchiare looks up at Aiden. "She and Elis Shh returned to court early this morning, before dawn."

Aiden looks between Soleil and Seodil. "She's expecting me in two days to join her at this gathering.. I can't really back out, especially not now. Setisel led me there for a reason, I know it."

Aiden says, "Clairchiare? When did they leave, exactly?"

Steven says, "Elis Shh...." He shakes his head. "'Whisper.'"

Clairchiare winces and says, "Lauren, do not eat them and you should be fine. They cause adverse reactions in non-elves, sometimes."

Seodil stiffens at Steven's comment. The usually serene elf looks half-terrified.

Aiden looks at Steven. "Shit."

Lauren nods at Clairchiare solemnly. "Shit?" she mouths, looking toward Aiden.

Clairchiare says, "I... I'm not sure when Lady Shh left, but my mother departed shortly before I came to the city for you.." He trails off. "Shit?"

Aiden looks over at Clairchiare. "Elis Shh. Looks really young, long blonde hair, almost-blue eyes? Likes violets?"

Clairchiare hesitates, then nods yes. Seodil just nods, no hesitation.

Aiden nods, "What's on the social calander for the court two days from now?"

Steven mutters, "We're being played again."

Aiden looks up at Steven, grinning. "Yes.. but this time we know it. That gives us the advantage."

Clairchiare looks at Aiden as though the Grey Worlder has grown a second head, but answers "There is a masked ball..."

Aiden nods. "Bingo. That's what she mentioned."

Seodil looks at Aiden. Voice tight, he says "Aiden. You must not go to her."

Aiden looks up at Seodil. "We keep hearing these rumours that we had something to do with the Princesses disappearance, or that people think that we've had something to do with it. Why would she be trying to separate one of us? To frame us? If they have something to do with this, they might lead us to her while they're trying to frame us. If we know that they're playing a game, we can take steps to protect ourselves.. and get the Princess back."

"I have no idea, little guy," says Lauren to thin air just next to Seodil's head. "I guess maybe we could hunt down his mom and...oh, I don't know. We could question her? What do you think?" She pauses, looking expectant.

Seodil's eyes slide to Clairchiare, then to Steven. He looks back at Aiden, visibly unhappy. "Why would she separate one of us? Framing, perhaps. Perhaps also, to find out what we know and how close we may be to solving this? Aiden, Elis Shh is the Adjuster of Balance at this court."

Aiden says, "What's the title mean?"

Sol says quietly, back in elven form and crouched, "She's the court torturer, Aiden."

Aiden says, "And why's your mother lurking in our garden while the Adjuster of Balance is five doors over talking to me?"

Steven blinks at Lauren. "Who... are you talking to?"

Steven grimaces at Sol. "Oh... wonderful job."

"Maybe if we gave her enough starflowers it would work like sodium pentathol...just like a spy movie or something..." Lauren jumps, at being addressed. "O-oh. Um."

Seodil says to Aiden, "Because they are close friends and neither of the poisonous bitches can be trusted?" Clairchiare twitches, and says.. nothing, face unhappy.

Sol nods slowly to Steven. Seodil looks up at the monk. "Believe me, she enjoys it."

Aiden says, "Why don't we just arrange to make sure that all of us end up at this ball?"

Clairchiare looks at Lauren. "Little guy?" He gives Seodil's tall figure a dubious lookover.

"Nevermind," says Lauren. "Sorry. It's...not really important. I'll be right back." She heads for the door.

Sol and Seodil wear an almost identical expression of relief as they turn to Aiden. "Yes."

The door is shut, and no one has told Lauren the magic words. Aiden is also leaning on it.

Aiden says, "I'll meet her and play nice, the rest of you meet me there and then we're following Setisel's clues and maybe getting to the bottom of this while staying in a nice safe group."

Lauren nudges the door. "Come on," she says. "I need to go, you know, DO something."

Aiden says, "Lauren? What's up? Why do you want out?"

Lauren fidgets, and lowers her voice. "I have to use the damn bathroom, all right? Let me out."

Aiden motions at the bathroom that's connected to this bedroom. "It's right over there."

Clairchiare looks at the group and says, slowly, "I can sneak you in. Ilirith and Sarete will help me. I know Rathskeliad and Linden are not going; Linden hates dances, and Keli decided to stay with her. I can borrow masks from Keli, he has a collection..."

Aiden says, "I hate to say this, but Rathskeliad seems awfully close to his mother. The less he knows, the better.."

"Just let me the hell out, Aiden." Lauren shifts from foot to foot. "You can throw a fit later if you want." She nods to another spot of empty air to her left.

Clairchiare looks close to tears again, and as if he wants to protest, but stays silent.

Aiden says, "Tell me who you're looking at, and I'll let you go.."

"Shut UP," Lauren hisses at her phantom companion. "That worked when I was FIVE."

Steven squints, trying to see whatever it is she's looking at. Is it one of the servants? Something else?

Lauren scowls, and speaks in a whisper. "It's Moopy, all right? Now will you open the damn door already? It shouldn't be a big deal."

Aiden steps aside and says the word to open the door, looking absolutely baffled.

Lauren drips out into the main room, and in short order out the door into the garden. As she passes Aiden, she chokes on a giggle.

Aiden closes the door when Lauren is through, then looks over at Clairchiare and sighs softly. He can sympathise with the pink elf's nearness to tears.. he's been there most of the day himself, and events keep conspiring to make him hold it together.

"They ARE nuts, little guy," says Lauren mournfully once she's clear of the room. "And in a big world of hurt. I don't understand any of it. I couldn't pee on him, I really couldn't. He'd have cried."

Lauren's imaginary childhood friend bobs in the air beside her. Moopy says grudgingly, "Well, I guess you're right there, Boss. On all of that stuff. Are we gonna help, or try feeding them flowers?"

"I WANT to help," Lauren insists. "I just don't know how! Everyone hates everyone else, unless they're having sex with someone, and...maybe the flower trick would work, but...probably not..." She sniffles damply. "Moopy, this is stupid and I HATE it."

"...I want to go home," she adds, more softly.

Moopy sighs, and looks as pathetic as only a small, floating, bright orange squid with blue spots can look. Softer, he says "I'm sorry, Boss. I don't know the way home. But maybe we can get you some sex, y'know? Or, like, just kissing. That'd be better."

Moopy adds, "You know that Zhi boy wants to kiss you, Boss. Would that help?"

Lauren nods. "That's probably good. I don't have a room of my own anyway." Sniffling, she drifts up the garden path to where Zhi gave such clear directions.

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