| Logs |
2004 July 25
| Idlewild |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Idlewild Logs |
July 25
A very painful morning dawns upon the elves gathered.. well, sprawled... around the mossy clearing where Badger Mattress does her cooking. Steven and Lauren open their eyes to horrible hangovers and Grennit of the Foxcatcher clan, author of at least some of their misery, going around collecting the empty bottles of her wine. She brushes pale orange hair away from blue eyes and grins. "Thought you two were never gonna wake up. The horse holds her liquor better than you do." Badger Mattress is cooking something-- it smells like that oatmeal porridge again, with milk and maple sugar. The Overtree twins Trip and Fall are talking quietly to her, as is Zhi.
Lotte and the elven rockstars are nowhere in sight... but Aiden is just walking up with Sol and Seodil.
Steven groans softly. I didn't think I had THAT much to drink!
Aiden is actually looking downright cheerful for once. "Morning!"
"Mrrruhfraagh," essays Lauren, rolling into a cross-legged position. "S'aidengraaagh."
Soleil quirks an eyebrow at the bottle-collecting Grennit and looks at Lauren and Steven. "You made a new friend and we missed the party?"
Aiden glances back at Soleil and Seodil. "They're looking a little rough this morning. Too much to drink, you two?"
Steven groans a little bit more as he pulls himself up. "Hello.. Sol. You're in a good mood....."
Aiden settles down near his hungover siblings.
Seodil picks up a bottle-- Steven still has five near him-- and sniffs the neck delicately. He looks wistful. "It was potent and quite nice... pity there is no more."
Sol grins at Steven. "You should see the other guy."
Lauren wobbles up to her feet, and looks green. "It's Grennit's fault. And he's Sven now." Swatting a hand toward Steven, she glumphs toward a bank of tangled foliage not too far away.
Aiden glances over at the woman he's never met, though he mostly does it out of the corner of his eye.
Steven says, "Nrrgh... Is that my name now? I changed it last night?"
"YES-ow," says Lauren's hedge.
Grennit looks up at the sound of her name. She's fresh-faced as can be, eminently cheerful, has hair several shades paler orange than Lotte, and eyes only a shade of increased blue clarity different from Aiden's. Smiling, she walks over to the new arrivals. "Hey, Lauren, Sven, who's... eep. Gorgeous men have arrived."
Aiden gives the bush a not-quite-concerned look, "Are you alright back there, Lauren?" He smiles, politely, at Grennit. "Aiden."
Lauren rustles around in the foliage, tending to a few delicate matters that do not invite speech. Nor does a hangover. There's a sloshing sound, though.
Grennit gives Aiden a cheery smile, much warmer than polite. "Grennit Foxcatcher. I make wine."
Aiden nods, "Nice to meet you." He motions at the two behind him. "Soleil, and Seodil."
Steven murmurs, "And what wine it is...." He manages to get himself seated upright, rubbing his head.
Grennit's eyes linger on Soleil and Seodil as they murmur polite greetings.
Lauren grundles out of her hedge and back to the clearing, much less distracted by her bladder. "Seodil," she states, firmly. "I have something very important to tell you."
Zhi appears to not be enjoying his morning entirely as he slouches away from Badger's fire and greets Aiden's little group before looking all too soberly at Lauren and Steven. He opens his mouth, then stops and waits for Lauren to finish her sentence, looking curious.
Aiden nods to Zhi, "Morning, Zhi." He's half-distracted, watching Lauren for her important announcement.
"Your new name, Seodil," declares Lauren with one finger pointed out in a manner MOST authoritative, "is Mungmung Ptoo."
Sol chokes and ends up in a coughing fit.
Aiden rolls his eyes. Apparently the crazy sister is still drunk. "Zhi? You okay?"
Seodil stares at Lauren for a moment, then looks at Zhi.
Lauren catches a quick case of shut-up-now and follows the assembled eyes toward Zhi. He DOES look upset.
Zhi looks a trifle thrown off balance by Lauren's declaration, and takes a moment to blink at Aiden. "Unn. ..Yes. But I have irritating news."
Aiden says, "What's going on?"
Steven blinks, looking betwen Lauren, and then Zhi as he begins his irritating news.' He frowns slightly. "What' s-- ow -- what's wrong?
Zhi looks disgruntled and addresses the whole of the little group. "Kip's not a day's travel away from us anymore. He stayed roughly in one area for thefirst couple of days, then overnight he started moving away."
Aiden looks confused, "Kip left?"
Zhi looks at Aiden, then points at Lauren.
Aiden winces. "So. When do we leave to go get him?"
Zhi says, "I was leaving him to sort himself out while these two got to know the wine and the Foxcatchers, but... Kip's heading in a direction I don't like. I'm leaving very shortly."
Aiden nods, "I'm going with."
Lauren bows her head. "Stop pointing at me. It's not MY fault."
Grennit says pragmatically, "Only had wine for a few days of party anyhow. Good time for a change of pace. I'll get my things."
Steven blinks. "Few days?
Zhi glances at Steven. "You've been lolling around giggling with the little vintner for about the past two, three days, yes..."
Grennit says "Ooh dear. You didn't know?"
Lauren looks up. "We have NOT....have we? AiiighOW."
Zhi nods.
Steven blinks. "No.... we didn't know. Er... what... happened...?
Steven starts to get a really sinking feeling.
Aiden looks up at Sol from where he's sitting. "Good thing we didn't unpack."
Sol leans down to pat Aiden's shoulder. "And that we got such a good night's relaxation."
Grennit eyes Steven with dawning comprehension. "Ooh. You're not all elven. That's what happened..."
Aiden grins at Sol.
Steven considers facepalming, but that would hurt in his current condition. He settles for shaking his head slowly. "Well... that explains it..."
Lauren rubs her eyes--gently. "No wonder I feel like I've been stepped on and thrown out of a tree. And now Kip's running away? This STINKS. I want some water and then somebody can drag me onto a horse."
Sounding sincere, Grennit says, "Sorry... but. Mixed blood, huh. I'm not very experienced with that, y'know?"
Sol says cheerfully, "What DID you do to him, Lauren?"
Seodil rouses from silence to look directly at Steven after scanning the clearing. "Where is Lotte?"
Lauren glares directly at Sol. "I kissed him. All right? And that's damn well a...what? Lotte's gone too?"
Aiden roots around in his back for his waterbottle. He hands it over to Lauren when he finds it. "Yeah, we ought to find her too."
Sol smirks at Lauren. "Obviously not very well."
Lauren snarls, and side-arms Aiden's water bottle at Sol's smirking face. She is NOT happy this morning.
Zhi starts to say "Oh, Lotte's not missing, she went with the Foxcatcher boys--" before the morning escalates into violence and a very startled Sol narrowly dodges the missile sent toward his head. Seodil moves entirely too fast to catch it, and offers it back to Aiden.
"Hate you HATE owww," says Lauren, recalling through a smack of headache that she should have taken a swig out of that before she threw it. "...t'nks aiden."
Aiden takes the bottle from Seodil. "Thanks." He's not getting involved. He's so not getting involved.
Sol rubs a reddened, bottle-grazed ear and eyes Lauren narrowly.
Zhi unpauses, scratches his cheek and says, "....so, Lotte's off visiting and I'm leaving as soon as I get my pack on. Pack's by the fire. Company's welcome, but not required," and walks away.
Aiden stands up and slings his pack back on. He's apparently determined to go with. "She'll be okay with them?"
Over his shoulder, Zhi says "She'll be fine. I've known the lot of them since they were born."
Lauren scowls at the grass for a few seconds before shuffling after Zhi, toward the horses. She appears to be ranting under her breath at a spot not far from her right elbow.
Grennit nods, agreeing. "They'll take good care of her, Aiden... they really were getting along sparkling well."
Aiden nods, apparently satisfied with that.
The only horse in sight is Crenshaw, who rolls one large brown eye and moans at Lauren, "My heeeeead."
Seodil offers Steven a hand up.
Steven frowns slightly, and nods a little, looking around. "She's already gone?" Not even a chance to say good-bye.... Well. She'll be safe. Hassha won't get hold of her with them, they'll make sure of that. He accepts the hand, and stands, wincing slowly and painfully.
Lauren grumbles and climbs up to sulk on Crenshaw's back. "Horses don't DRINK wine," she scolds. "COME ON YOU GUYSow."
Grennit looks at Steven sympathetically. "She's not gone forever. She'll be fine with them, honest."
Crenshaw shakes her skin irritably. "Yes I do, yes I did, and Lauren, if you stay that loud I will set you on fire."
Steven mms a bit, and nods, still beoing very careful. "I hope so... er.... doyou have anything for hangovers? Your brew really packs a whallop...."
Seodil reaches quietly to lay an arm across Aiden's shoulders.
Aiden turns to smile at Seodil. He's ready to go as soon as Zhi comes back for his backpack.
Grennit nods quickly to Steven, "Wait then," and darts across to fetch her own backpack. After a moment's rummaging, she comes up with a little brown vial and hands it to Steven. "Set you right up, there."
Steven smiles gratefully to Grennit, and examines the vial cautiously. He starts to take a sniff, then decides that won't help, and simply downs the contents. I'd be all the more reluctant to drink it if it smelled hporrible.
Lauren looks around. Swift...Lotte took Swift. In a way she can't explain or even process terribly well at the moment, that makes her sad. Crenshaw suffers a good rib-nudging until she sidles closer to the rest of the crew.
It tastes like raspberries as Steven drinks it down, and burns like fire-- raspberry-scented fire. It also lifts the aching top of Steven's head right off and.. floats it away. Steven is now feeling no pain, and in fact... all is very, very right with the world. The beautiful, friendly, kind world...
Grennit beams at Steven. "Any better?"
Steven blinks. "Uhm... oooh.. It...'s a lot better... uhm..." He blinks. "Are you... sure this doesn't havce.. you know.. side effects on half-elves? 'Cause right now I feel kinda funky."
The group gathers around Steven and Grennit as everyone else is ready to travel.
Grennit spreads her hands helplessly. "Oh. Half-elf? Hmm. Well. No. Not actually sure. I've never dosed one before, y'know? We'll have to experiment later, to see what's best for you."
"I hope that's not starflower whatever," Lauren says solicitously. "But whatever it is, I kinda want some."
Steven beams, looking almost painfully cheerful to Lauren. "S'okay. I think it's good. Real good." He looks around, then meanders off to the group, beaming."
Sol stares at Grennit a moment, then leans close to murmur to Aiden, "I think I like her, but... all the same, I'd appreciate it if you didn't take anything to drink from her. Ever. Please?"
Aiden nods at Sol. "I was just thinking that, actually."
"Oh, no starflower. What's that?" Grennit wanders over to talk to Lauren as the group sets out in Zhi's wake, seeking Kip.
Lauren rummages in her bag. "It's fun," she explains. Little white flowers, waxy leaves, but it makes tea that's VERY relaxing and you see pretty colors. I've got some here somewhere."
Grennit's ears almost visibly perk.
Steven is insufferably cheerful throughout the rest of the day. He's happy, the day's happy, the world's happy, why shouldn't he spread the happiness? What a lovely day it is, all that rain is sure to make the plants grow,and isn't the multi-gigavolt thunderstorm so pretty? And the sun is so lovely in it's 100+ Celsius heat... and aren't those Fireants the epitome of lovely nature? Perhaps he doesn't get the chance to go quite that far with his utter sunshine... but it probably is for the best that he doesn't.
Meanwhile, in the land of the slightly-more-in-touch, Lauren eventually finds her dried starflower hoard and hands most of it over to Grennit for experimentation. A delighted Grennit hands Lauren several small vials in exchange-- two brown ones of Raspberry Hangover Relief, two green ones she says are emergency aid if you're hurt and need a temporary boost to get to safety, and two dark blue ones she explains slyly as "romance assistance."
Lauren coos, and tucks these precious, precious things into a safe inner corner of her bag.
In the land of the even-more-in-touch, Sol stays near Aiden as they walk, while Seodil ranges ahead and behind with silver ponytail and wary eyes. Zhi leads them without hesitation throughout the day, not stopping for the midday meal of dried apples and smoked meat; they all eat as they walk, as the choice is clearly that or be left behind. By evening, the part-humans are ready for a break when they stop moving at last. Zhi still looks fidgety, and does not sit down.
Aiden looks at Zhi. "Hey.. I know it's not easy, but you gotta let us mixed bloods rest. Kip's going to be resting too, we'll catch him."
Lauren sneaks a nip off one of her vials of Raspberry Steven-Scrambler around lunchtime, since her head's still a mess. She's much more cheerful come dinner, when everything stops. "...we could BE there by tomorrow. Don't listen to Aiden. Come on, Steven."
Zhi chews his lip as he looks at Aiden. "Kip has stopped moving, but..."
Aiden says, "We'll get up at dawn and press on tomorrow, and if it comes right down to it, a couple of us can shift and try to catch up with him before the rest of the group gets there. That simple."
Lauren shakes her head. "He could be eaten by BEARS. None of this STOPPING."
Aiden says, "Lauren, he's not going to be eaten by bears. I'm pretty sure he knows his bear-safety rules. Anyone that's been in the forest for a while does. We're stopping so we don't exhaust ourselves and then get so far behind that we can't catch up."
Steven blinks a bit. "Oh, he wouldn't be eaten by bears, I'm sure! Aiden has a good idea. We should rest a bit. Zhi will know if he's moving again. And it's such a nice place to sleep too!
Zhi's mouth twitches up. Solemnly, he says "Eaten by bears is highly unlikely yes. Kip grew up not all that far from here... that is the problem."
Aiden frowns, "How long is it going to take him to reach home, Zhi?"
Steven asks, sittig down, "Why is it a problem, Zhi?
Lauren says, "And what's going to happen to him when he gets there? It didn't sound like a nice place. THEY could eat him OH MY GOD WE HAVE TO GO NOW."
Zhi sighs. "That depends if a patrol spots him, Aiden. That family is very serious about keeping out... impurities, so they are their very own section of the forest border. The rest of us aren't good enough to join them, and are not welcome. So, there's a chance Kip will be found by a group that knows the way better than he does, and get there faster. Right now we're not going toward the center of their territory, we're going toward Kip.. who doesn't know exactly where he's going, as he's still a day's travel from what should be the edge of what they claim."
Aiden scowls at the mention of Kip's family and their feelings. "So. We ought to press on and go get him, as fast as we can, seems like." He looks around, "Any objections? I'm tired, but I can press on if Kip's likely to end up in trouble out there."
Zhi looks at Steven and says, "It's a problem, because I don't know how well his family is going to react to finding out just how impure Kip really is. Magic, you see, is an impurity." Zhi looks wry. "So is premarital sex, but I suspect they've already figured that one out... Kip teleported away from home when he was first seduced."
Lauren makes an impatient "meh" sound and presses on just a bit. "What Aiden said. If Kip ends up shot I'm going to drive Crenshaw over a CLIFF."
Crenshaw says, "I beg your pardon, young woman?"
Sol looks unwontedly grim. "I like the little brat. I say we go on tonight."
Seodil nods agreement.
Steven nods a little. "I'll go forward, sure. I say we catch up to him quckest.
"..eh. Sorry. Used to driving still." Lauren pats Crenshaw's neck lamely. "Come ONNNN. He could be getting shot at right now!"
Aiden nods. "Well.. We can probably catch up to him quick if we press it. Let's go then.."
Zhi sighs, "I'm honestly not sure if he would be in more trouble with his family if he got that girl pregnant, or if he didn't."
Lauren blinks. "Buh," she says. "WhatWHO?"
Steven blnks. "Er, pardon?"
Aiden says, "Kip talked to me about it. I didn't think he'd go back to them right now. I'd rather he not have to do it alone. I thought someone should be there for moral support.. Is someone going to have to be there to keep them from hurting him?"
Zhi runs a hand along his mohawk, shoulders his pack, and starts walking again. As he walks, he says "Kip teleported during the first time he had sex. Poor thing. Found him wandering confused and lonely without pants." He nods to Aiden, "I didn't expect it either... but then, he was never sure of the way home before now either. I made sure of that, til he 'ported again... and wandered into a spot he recognized. Keep them from hurting him? Yes, possibly. I really don't know. I was going to go back with him after he'd gotten over more of his upbringing, in case they do cast him out."
Lauren tucks her legs a little more tightly together, not an easy thing on a horse. "While he was having sex, huh? So he, um, always does that?"
Sol suddenly tries very, very hard to keep a straight face.
Aiden sighs, and mumbles, mostly to himself, "Am I the only one with one sane parent?" He continues, louder, "Do we need to range ahead and try to keep him in one spot while the rest of the group catches up? We can."
Zhi says, "If it's any comfort, mine were quite stable. --And that might be a good idea, yes. Please." He looks around. "Who can move faster than I can? How many of you?"
Lauren raises a hand.
Crenshaw sighs, "She means ME."
Zhi eyes Lauren as an afterthought. "Just a kiss, you said?"
Aiden likewise raises a hand. "Yeah.. It is comforting. I was starting to wonder. I can't say much for the other one, but at least one of them was sane."
Lauren mumbles a double-function "yahuh" at Zhi and Crenshaw.
Sol says quietly, "My mother was wonderful. My father didn't last, but I think he was nice."
Louder, Sol says "I'm one of the faster ones, though I can't take my pack with me if I change."
Aiden grins at Sol. "We'll just tree 'em before we go."
Seodil nods. "I too will be in the advance guard." He turns an approving look on Aiden, and nods again as he slips his own pack off. "Now, I think. Luckily, I brought rope."
Aiden takes his pack off and goes to collect Soleil's and Steven's before he helps Seodil out with putting them safely up a tree. He makes sure that the tree is recognisable.. something unique about it.
Steven nods, and starts to shuffle off his pack, humming cheerfully.
Sol, in wolf form, solves the recognition issue by taking a decorous whizz at the base of said tree.
Aiden laughs out loud. "Thanks, Sol..."
Sol shifts and grins. "Anytime. ..Hey, Lauren. Carry my clothes since you're on the horse? I didn't bring the pants I can change in." Stark naked, the golden elf tosses a bundle of leather at Lauren.
Grennit eyes Sol cheerfully while he remains a naked elf, then looks between at the pack-doffing Steven. "You, too?"
Aiden says, "Actually, Lauren, would you mind keeping track of mine, too?"
Steven nods, cheerfully still. "I probably should, to keep up with them, just in case. Besides, it's been a while since I've seen the world like that!"
Zhi mutters to himself, darkly. "...everyone but me... get there first... get in trouble... can't teleport..."
Lauren says, "Fine, fine." She catches Sol's leathers and holds out a hand for Aiden's. "At least you all have a GOOD reason to be naked this time."
Aiden takes his clothes off, grins at Lauren and says, "I usually have a good reason for being naked." He transforms immediately after saying it. The grin doesn't go away when he transforms.
Lauren sniffs. "There aren't enough good reasons in the WORLD for how much time you guys spend out of your clothes. Furry bozos. Are we ready to go?"
Seodil, having already put his clothing in his pack, shrugs and says "If I require pants, I will hit someone not in our group who has them," and then becomes a large silver wolf.
Zhi says, "I wish any of you were big enough to ride. All I can tell you is to go that way." He points. "...Can't Crenshaw take two?"
Zhi eyes Steven, too, the large cat being the largest animal other than Crenshaw.
Steven blinks, looking back at Zhi, tilting his head tot he side and giving an inquisitive 'Mrrp?'
Aiden shifts back and looks at Sol. "We did it once. Could I do it, or does it need to be the whole group that shifts into that form?"
Zhi looks back at Steven. "I want to come, too. I..." he looks at Aiden.
Sol blinks. "Oh! I... I think it has to be all of us, but I only did it because I thought I might be the... well... we aren't supposed to be able to pick. It has to be the... the leader of the Hunt, or the heir. I'm not... the hell with it. I'll try. Lua might not have gotten the letter yet."
Aiden nods. "Alright. I'm not terribly fond of it, but it would let us carry Zhi."
Lauren shifts uncomfortably. "What sort of bizarre wolf-thing is going on now?"
Sol grins at Lauren. "We're not always wolves, just nearly always. It has to be land predators. And the leader of the Hunt chooses the form for everyone else... only, I've done it once for our little pack. I'm going to try it again. If it works, I'll try not to eat Crenshaw... these prefer prey on horses."
Steven blinks a bit, wondering what kind of animal Sol is talking about.
Lauren shivers. "You just stay the HELL away frome me and my horse, you bastard."
Seodil says quietly, "Steven is exempt, because Steven is not technically a Hunt member. He did not take the change correctly." A look toward Steven. "Not that this is necessarily a weakness or a fault, to be quite frank."
Steven tilts his head to the other side, and meowls something to the effect of 'none taken,' though obviously not in anything like a language.
And then Seodil has barely finished speaking, before where he, Aiden and Soleil stood are tall, striped horses... with eyes toward the front of their heads, visible fangs, and large clawed paws. The Sol one turns to give a hissing laugh at Lauren, and winks.
Crenshaw shudders, and backs up a step with her skin twitching.
Aiden glances at Zhi, as if to say "what are you waiting for?"
Steven blinks. Just, blinks. If he was not happied-up, he'd be wondering what the hell those things are.
Zhi makes a leap for Aiden's back and scrambles on, after kicking him painfully in the kidneys. Grennit yells as she does the same thing to Seodil without asking and gets bitten. It appears to have been reflex, and isn't serious; he looks sorry. Probably. It's hard to tell with his fanged-Arabian face. Sol gusts another hissing sigh and lets Grennit mount him instead.
Lauren wonders what the hell those things are, and does NOT look mellow or pleased. She soothes Crenshaw the best she can, but...god DAMN they're creepy-weird. They probably roam the forests, eating little girls and their ponies.
Aiden makes a noise of protest when Zhi kicks his kidney, but neither bites him, nor throws him off. Not even to even the score between them. Though it is really tempting.
Crenshaw says shakily, "They're going first. I'm not going first. I WILL NOT let them chase me. If they're behind me, they'd be chasing me. No chasing."
Zhi leans forward to whisper to Aiden, "Thank you. I'll guide you. Straight ahead now, and I'll keep you on course. We lead!"
Aiden starts walking in the direction they were going before, until everyone else gets walking to, at which point he breaks into a run.
Lauren nudges Crenshaw into a tidy pocket of space behind the FREAKISH CREATURES that lets her--and Lauren--keep a close eye on 'em all. And they run.
Steven bounds in a happy-kitty manner after the group, somehow managing to come off as less of a predator and more of a big kitten tht got into the catnip.
Grennit murmurs something to Sol that sounds suspiciously like flirting. It breaks off with an OOF as they break into a long-legged run that Crenshaw are Steven are working to match. They run through the night, before pulling up with the latter two breathing hard as Zhi whispers to Aiden, "He's close now. Maybe twelve minutes' walk, or... oh, no."
Aiden flicks an ear at the "oh, no." He doesn't want to change back until they're absolutely ready, but he would like to know what's going on. He looks back over his shoulder, waiting for clarification.
Lauren digs her fingers into Crenshaw's shoulders, all anxious. "Oh no? OH NO? What's happened now?"
Zhi says, "The patrol is closer to him than we are."
Aiden growls, deeply. Then we continue running. We can beat them, if we run.
Lauren leans over the neck of her lathered mare. "Crennie? Are you good for just a little more run? I could get off..."
Zhi squeezes Aiden's sides with his legs and leans forward, tense. "Then let's run."
Crenshaw wheezes. "If you did you'd be here and I'd be there and knackered instead of here and knackered. S'go. He's a nice boy. Ought to keep his cock to himself but a nice boy."
Aiden goes right back to running, until Zhi sees fit to stop them again. It's probably best if they don't get seen by the patrol in this form, but they need to get at least a bit closer to Kip than they are right now.
Lauren nods. "S'go. Gallons of water an a nice lie-down after we're done."
Crenshaw staggers into motion again after Aiden and the other not-horses, Steven bringing up the rear near the tired mare. Long strides later, Zhi hisses "Shit! I think they have him!"
Aiden comes to an immediate halt, heart sinking.
Lauren wails. "We were too SLOW!"
Zhi leans forward as Sol, Seodil and the rest come swirling-- or staggering-- to a halt around them. Soft, he says "Now what? Charge? They will shoot. Are you up to a run dodging arrows, or should we follow them and see how he's treated, get a rest?"
Steven skids to a stop, panting and feeling perhaps the first tinge of irritation all day.
Aiden shakes his head. I'd rather not get shot at.. Goddamnit.
Lauren slides off Crenshaw's back. With a wince, she tries to rub some sensation back into an arse numb from riding. "I'm really fast," she says. "And I haven't even been running. How far is he?"
Zhi droops, and slides off Aiden. He says unhappily, "He's afraid but not injured. I think..." He looks at Lauren and smiles without much cheer. "Maybe two minutes at a run, but sweet? They'll shoot you or take you captive when they see you."
Aiden shifts back to his elven form, looking unhappy and guilty.
Steven grimaces a bit, as he turns back to human, folding his cloak around him. "Well, we're closer than we were earlier today...." Even to him, the optimism sounds a little lame. And it started out like such a really lovely day, too....
Lauren shifts her feet. "I, um, this IS kind of my fault. D'you think they'd actually kill me?"
Grennit gives Lauren a serious look-over as she slides off Sol's back. "They're assholes in these parts, but... they're also very patriarchal. You might have a decent chance if you looked more helpless."
Zhi's eyes widen and he sputters, "No! This is NOT a good idea!"
Lauren musses her hair and pouts her lower lip out. "Better? Should I put some dirt on my face?"
Steven shake shis head, "Zhi knows this place best... I think we should listen to him." Augh, now I'm not feelin so happy. Wait.. why was I happy?
Grennit ignores him, still eyeing Lauren thoughtfully. "Yes, and think up a story fast. Also--" she steps forward and rips Lauren's left sleeve nearly off. "Black eye would help too."
Aiden looks at Zhi. "We're not much for sitting back and watching our friends be hurt. It'll probably get us all killed in the end.."
"Where the hell am I going to get another shirt like that here? Oh, MAN..." Lauren picks at her precious black tee. It used to be from Old Navy...
Grennit frowns. "Actually, you can't wear that at all. It's definitely not from around here."
Lauren also backs off a step. "Nobody's hitting me in the face, eith...aw. FINE."
Zhi wails at Aiden, "Steven listens to me! Why aren't you listening to me when your sister is about to charge the enemy NAKED?"
"Anybody got any suggestions for a plausible excuse to be running around the forest in a dress?" Lauren hoiks the dark-red dress out of her pack. It's very Fall, leather bodice and everything. "'Cause I'm not going naked."
Crenshaw says, "I'd ask how naked helps Kip, only it's so very obvious. --Yes. Be a princess."
Aiden says, "Zhi, I am listening to you, but I'm also not about to let Kip's family hurt, or even kill him."
Grennit says, "No, that's great, their women wear dresses. Only males wear pants. But do it fast, Lauren."
Lauren wrestles into her dress and out of her mutilated Grey World duds without more than incidentally flashing the males in attendance. Neat girl trick, that.
Aiden says, under his breath, "Afterall.. that's all the King did, too."
Lauren straightens herself. "Okay," she huffs. "Somebody tell me what I'm a princess OF, and I'll sta...ooh. I AM a princess! I KNEW IT!"
Steven bristles a liottle, not really liking the posiiton Zhi put him in.
Zhi looks horribly stressed as he clutches his wilting mohawk. Pitifully, he says "I can't promise they won't kill her. It's only a chance they'll take in a stranger, Lauren, even to question, do you understand me? Kip's not hurt yet, and they have him, that means they're not going to or they're not sure and that gives us time to do something about it."
Aiden nods, and turns to Lauren, "Lauren, I think that Zhi's right in this case. I want to charge in there and take him back from them, too, but I think we need to trust Zhi's wisdom on this. He knows this area way better than we do, and there is no way that we're going to be able to pass. We haven't been here long enough."
Steven says quietly, "Zhi.. will you be able to tell when... if they do anything to him?"
Lauren folds her arms. "We're giving 'em more time to take him someplace that's harder to get into. And it's MY fault. I can so do this."
Grennit says, "Zhi is, forgive me here, not as objective as he could be. We're going to spring Kip anyway, we can spring Lauren too. At least it'll let Kip know he's not alone. I don't think they'll hurt a girl on sight, I think she'll be safe til they hold a council on what she is and if it's impure and by then, whack, we're in and out."
Zhi looks at Steven, nods. "I'll know. I'm his teacher, I can keep track of him better than I could follow any of you. I know his pattern."
Sol speaks up. "What good does it do us to have Lauren captured? Grennit could be right, but do we have a plan to use Lauren?"
Steven sighs. "Much as I hate to say it... we should wait, and do some scouting. We don't know what it is we're dealing with or what the place is like.
Grennit says, "She can almost pass, without that dress. With the dress, she's from Outside, but that's not really any worse than being of another family as long as she's not magical." She pauses. "Um. Can you do magic? Don't show it if you can."
"Of course not," says Lauren, with an open and honest face. "Can I GO now? Aiden, hit Steven until he says yes."
Zhi hisses. "Kip's moving away. Still not hurt."
Lauren dances on her toes. "IamsogoingRIGHTnow."
Aiden says, "Lauren! Stay where you are. You might be getting Kip in more trouble."
Steven says, "Zhi... where are they taking him?"
Lauren chitters. "Gimmedirectiongimmedirection NOW."
Grennit says, "C'mon, Aiden... I can't do it but she can. We're going to free Kip too, right? What's one more on the inside? She's got potions!"
Zhi says "Deeper into their territory, Steven... they live up in the trees as well, so probably back to Kip's family home... either to his old room, or a holding cell."
Aiden looks at Grennit. "She has been here for two weeks, and she regularly talks to bushes. She cannot possibly pass, and then it'll be a case of trying to decide whether they kill her for being unnatural, or if they kill her for being a Wraith."
Lauren screeches "I do NOT talk to bushes!" and rounds on Zhi. "DIRECTION NOW."
Grennit chews her lip, crestfallen. "Oh. So you're saying it's a problem she's crazy?" She glances over at Lauren.
Aiden says, "Crazy or not, she's my sister and I don't want her dead for her excentricities!"
Zhi grabs Lauren's shoulders and says "Stay here!" with great and blue-eyed intensity.
Grennit waves a hand, "Na, na, I'm not saying it's ok to use her as bait because she's crazy, I'm just rephrasing. So, she's crazy. ...Yes, that is a problem. Got it."
Lauren flails. "I'm not even your goddamn sister dammit why don't you STUPID people listed to Grennit?"
Aiden sighs. He doesn't know how to reason with Lauren, and he's running out of arguments.
Crenshaw takes the back of Lauren's dress in her teeth. Pointedly. And stands there, 600 pounds or so of not-moving elven horse.
Grennit says, "Wait, what if she were unconscious when they found her? No talking!"
Aiden says, "We're not knocking her unconscious. No."
Pale orange hair flying frizzy around her face, Grennit digs in her many-pocketed leather pack. "No, that would hurt her! I have a potion."
Lauren tries to turn to give Crenshaw a Look. "But the whole idea was that I could run in there and get him and he's MOVING right now while you're TALKING to me you STUPID PEOPLE! Nobody hit meeee!"
Steven says, "Er... no, let's not go there. Honest, we need more information. Especially about this area. What good would it do to they take her to a completely different city because she ran into the wrong group?"
Zhi says reluctantly, "They don't have cities, there's one central..." and shuts up again as if realizing he can not volunteer information, too.
Aiden was very close to stepping on Zhi's toes there, but Zhi fortunately caught on, quickly.
Lauren digs in her toes and wrenches her torso forward--either the mouthful of dress Crenshaw has is coming out, or it's coming off the dress.
Lauren's dress becomes backless with a sharp ripping noise and begins a slow slide off her shoulders.
Steven plants his face in his hand. "Lauren... let me posit a situation to you...."?
Aiden moves to put himself bodily in front of Lauren. She's smaller than he is. She's the only one smaller than he is.
Moopy says, "Thought we weren't going naked, Boss?"
Crenshaw says, "You still have hair, you stubborn twolegs."
"Shut. Up," Lauren hisses toward the invisible friend over her right shoulder. She clamps the dress to her front. "Don't make me knock you down. 'Cause I will."
Aiden says, "Try it."
Crenshaw says, "With what, you ninny? I weigh seven of you!"
Steven sighs and stands, also standing in front of Lauren. "Lauren... let me posit this.... Kip is,, right now, safe and unharmed. From what we understand of these people, they are just as likely to shoot you and KILL you as ask you who you are. You are not them. If they KILL you on sight, and stick all sorts of arrows in you for REAL.... then that won't be helping Kip now, will it?
Moopy says, "Run! They don't want you to but you can do it naked! The men will avert their eyes from your boobies and be chivalrous! You can save Kip with your boo!"
Lauren wriggles her toes--need lots of traction to knock down Aiden, yesyes. "Not YOU, Crennie. You just hold still...STEVENNNN. They're not going to kill me."
Steven folds his arms. "Oh, really? Have they told you this?"
Lauren gets the tiniest running start on record and tries to elbow Aiden in a vital location.
Sol says, "I wouldn't count on that, Lauren. Sometimes I think about killing you and I'm on your side."
While Lauren is busy wiggling her toes and getting ready, Aiden suddenly moves to knock her down. Of course, she moved at the same time and so they collide.
The rather messing coming together of two bodies both trying to knock each other over is done in but a moment of flailing and perhaps a curse or two. When the dust settles, Lauren is on her rear on the floor, having a wardrobe malfunction while Aiden has managed to remain on his feet, but only barely. He may have been the cause of that wardrobe malfunction.
Moopy yells, "SAVE KIP, BOOBIES! GO FORTH IN GLORY AND SAVE KIIIIIP!"
Steven blinks as the whole scuffle takes less time than it takes to blink twice. He sighs, and shakes his head.
Zhi pats Steven on the shoulder and says, "It was very nice logic. Unfortunately, you were talking to Lauren. Don't give up, though." He's looking just a bit frayed. "Lauren? Will you put your dress back on so we can quietly trail Kip?"
Aiden looks sheepish and mumbles an apology before slinking back to where he was standing before.
Lauren yipes, scrambles to her feet, and nearly knocks herself down again trying to smack Moops a good one. "I HATE YOU!" she screeches at all and sundry. "I'D HAVE BEEN THERE BY NOW!" Finally, she realizes her dress is, uh, a skirt, and pulls up the front of her bodice.
Steven grimaces. "you'd have been dead by now!"
Lauren scowls. "You don't know that. You're just a careful nice person who happens to be STUPID right now."
A new voice says conversationally, if in rather arrogant tones, "You know, you are remarkably loud."
Aiden knew that was going to happen, he just knew it. Well, at least they won't have to run Lauren up a tree. He turns to see who is addressing them.
Moopy says, "Oh no! Quick! BLIND HIM WITH THE BOO!"
Standing with an arrow nocked and pointed at Lauren is the spitting image of Kip-- if Kip were filled out more in the shoulders, had light grey eyes instead of brown, and a very long bow.
[Previous Log] [Index] [Next Log]