| Logs |
2005 February 06
| Idlewild |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
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| Realms: Idlewild Logs |
February 6
Aiden and Steven scatter after the little conference-room discussion breaks up, Clairchiare returning to his usual attic haunt and the rest dispersing as customary thus far. The rest of the night passes fairly quietly for Steven, until a note is slipped under the note requesting his presence in that same conference room. Aiden's breakfast with Seodil is interrupted by a copy of the same note.
Steven doesn't see a time listed on the paper, and so makes his way to the conference room immediately.
Aiden dresses and pulls his hair back into a ponytail since he hasn't had the chance to have a bath this morning. He heads down to the conference room after bidding Seodil goodbye.
They arrive at approximately the same time, an easy slowing down in the hallway rather than a collision-- but clearly both received the notes and hastened here without delay. There is already someone in the room, talking to Kabi-- a slim and dainty lady in a daring silk dress, high silk gloves, and an elaborate hairstyle, all in shades of peacock blue and black. Her makeup is exquisite and so perfect that it's difficult, at first, to tell that this is Lauren.
Aiden pauses when he enters the room to find the strange woman there. It passes quickly enough. "Wow, Lauren, you look like a million bucks."
Steven at first wonders who it is, since he doesn't remember many people from the Summer Court who favored blue and black -- most tended to favor brighter colors, verging on the pastel. He blinks, recognizing Lauren a few moments after Aiden does. "Lauren?"
Lauren swishes an abbreviated curtsey that looks like it's gotten a lot of practice lately and twinkles her eyes at Aiden and Steven. "Hello, you," she purrs, before a frown creases her face and she snaps back out of character. "Oh my GOD," she says, more recognizable. "I mean OH MY GOD. I have been SO busy. Is there some aspirin?"
Aiden shakes his head, "I don't think so, sorry."
Lauren groans. "I have like ten TONS of metal on my head and Kabi doesn't think ladies get to have spines that BEND."
Steven blinks again at the sudden change in verbal gears; it's like she went from first gear, then switched to four-wheel drive and second gear in the span of a moment. "Er, maybe some kind of herbal tea... as for bending, I think you might want to avoid that in that dress, and with the way your hair is. Are you all right?"
Aiden finds a seat. "How'd it go?"
Kabi beams like a hairy-toed little sun, and pats Lauren's waist quasi-maternally. "Thanks to you and your sister, we're doing very well in the snaring department. She has an invitation to a party tonight that I'd very much like you all to attend... I want the key players that know your Rathskeliad best, if at all possible. I can disguise you all, don't worry, and you shouldn't have to interact with him..." she looks at Aiden for a moment-- "but I would like visual confirmation, if you can... and if things go wrong, we need someone in place to help extract your sister."
Steven thinks, Tonight! A lot sooner than I'd thought, but, still.... He nods to Kabi. "All right. How will we be disguised?"
Aiden looks ill at the mention of a party. "Y.. yeahsure.. I'll do whatever.."
Lauren winces at Kabi's pat, but smooths her face out again. "It went well," she admits, starting to twinkle again. "I believe all of you might well be the Beast Queen's menagerie again. No one's told me yet..."
Aiden says, "Well, you look amazing. You're certainly going to be catching a lot of attention in that."
Lauren swats Aiden with her fan--not gently, either--and then clacks it open to flutter at herself. "That's the idea," she says. "What have you guys been up to?"
Aiden says, "Ow! What was that for?"
Aiden says, "Rescuing some kids from a warehouse. We were supposed to get something else, too, but we sort of forgot about it in the rush to get the kids out to safety."
Kabi smirks. "She's been very busy... with any luck at all, tonight she'll get the attention of exactly who we want. I know that my rival will be at that party, and our Lauren's been making herself seen in a remarkable number of places since you last saw her. Thanks to your rescue of the children-- ah, tell it yourself, then, if you like." Lauren's whap of Aiden earns her a whap in the sore lower back from Kabi. "Don't hit your backup, dear. Never hit your backup."
Steven nods quietly, folding his arms and listening.
Lauren groans and tries to droop. "Kabiiiii," she mopes. "I'm SORRRRRRRE."
Chewing her lip thoughtfully, Kabi says "The kids are more valuable, not just to me... if what you believe about the blood is true. They were bargaining chips, and now he's lost them.. or Herself has lost them. Either way, someone's out a bribe."
Aiden nods, "They're going to be looking to replace it.. and punish those who lost it and those who took it."
Patting Lauren's knee, Kabi adds "You'll get to change and soak all day if you like... after you at least start discussing plans for tonight. With those who will accompany you. Sadly, I can't show myself without ruining the game, everyone there will know me and I'm supposed to be in hiding from our Lauren and Herself... so you'll need to work together very closely if any of you needs anything."
The sandy-haired little woman nods solemnly to Aiden. "If they can't regain their bribe, they at least need to regain face. The way we've worked this, they ought to think Lauren ordered the kids taken. They'll want to talk to her and negotiate."
Steven nods a little. "Any chance of them looking for the kids and trying to take them back by force, instead of negotiating?"
Aiden nods. "We're there to protect her just in case anything goes wrong, then? I assume, Lauren, that you've already got an idea what you're going to say?"
Lauren rustles. "They'll probably try both, maybe at the same time. It seems like Rath...what am I going to say? Um. Still working on that."
With a little headshake, Kabi says "There's always a chance, of course... but between all our actions, Lauren looks pretty powerful. They should, luck willing, only try honey on her tonight."
Aiden says, "Are the kids safe?"
Snapping her fingers, Kabi looks at Lauren. "Honey. Which reminds me. Are you even thinking about sleeping with him?"
Steven just blinks at the blunt, point-blank question.
Flashing a quick grin at Aiden, Kabi says "Safe as they can be, in the city. Scattered and with those who can protect them, absolutely. Still looking for where some of them want to go after this."
Lauren blinks. "Yes," she blurts. "Um. NO! Kabi, that's terrible."
Aiden smiles faintly at that. "As long as they're safe. Thanks."
Raising one sandy eyebrow at Lauren, Kabi snorts. "I see. I'll be sending you a packet of herbs today, then. Take them as instructed... and make a plan for what Aiden and Steven need to do in case you decide to test those herbs and sleep with the enemy tonight. You don't want to endanger them or you by losing track of each other or mixing signals on whether or not you're okay."
Steven arches his brow slightly. I guess Clair's truth-poison dart is still sort of working.
Aiden gets a pat on the knee from Kabi, too. "Believe it or not, I really was bringing your friend Hellebore money that night we met-- for a few students he has of mine. I do what I can for the city's children, Aiden."
Aiden winces slightly. "Yeah. Some sort of signal would be a very good thing. I'd hate to accidently rip his throat out."
Aiden smiles at Kabi. "Oh, I believe you. I was just.. being cautious, that's all. I'm really glad they're safe. They were cute kids."
Steven smiles and nods, "That they were. I'm glad they're safe." he makes a quiet sound. "So... we'll be the menagerie tonight, then. Communication will be tricky. Will they even allow us in the party?
Lauren mumbles at the floor near Steven's feet. "...if'm going to, I'll just...eh. Break a glass, I guess. That should be okay." Fidget. "But I won't." Fidget. "What are you guys going to be disguised as, anyway?"
Aiden looks over at Kabi, "Same as before?"
Kabi nods, "Work it out, you three. I'll have agents outside the house but not in. You need signals and safeties; sounding good so far. And yes, Steven, if the new lady mage in town insists on her pets, she'll get her way... we can dress you up a little, too. Jewels round your necks, a little gilding of the claws, whatnot." She nods to Aiden. "Unless you'd prefer another disguise? Choose for your comfort, after all. It's your hide, not mine."
Aiden shakes his head, "I'm quite comfortable with the disguises we used previously."
"Oooh, gilded claws," Lauren coos. "Steven you HAVE TO. It's so Zsa Zsa."
Lauren looks over at Aiden. "Not so much with a big wolf, but...eh, maybe."
Aiden says, "Right. So if you decide to.. " he pauses, having difficulty with this.. "sleep with Rathskeliad, you're going to break a glass. Give us a signal for trouble."
Steven looks at Lauren oddly, then sighs. "Whatever will get us in with the least concern and trouble." he frowns, looking at his hands. I'm gonnna shift and then I'm gonna be naked, with a jeweled coolar, and gold nail-polish. It'd be enough even to give my teacher a fit of laughing. "Maybe the glass-breaking should be the trouble-sign."
"If there's trouble, someone's going to start laughing hysterically and won't stop," Lauren decides. "Remember that trick from rescuing Kip? That one. I'm feeling much better already. And STEVENNNN, you have to get your claws gold..."
Aiden nods, "Sounds good, Lauren."
Steven lets out a breath, and nods, "All right, all right." he blinks. "wait. Who else is going to be at this party? I just realized, I know at least one person will recognize a big brownish cat."
Lauren giggles. "Aiden, do you think he'd look good dyed blue to match my dress?"
Aiden looks at Steven, "Sarete?"
Steven nods to Aiden. "She was there when... we got you, and I was the cat then for a time."
Aiden says, "Sure he would, Lauren, but I'm going to let you do the convincing on that one, because I've seen his claws."
Steven coughs. "Let's not go overboard on the accessorizing, please...."
Aiden says, "Well. Could you give Lauren a note to give Sarete if she happens to be there?"
Kabi stands, nodding. "I'll go see to your herbs and trappings; Lauren, a maid will be in your room when you get back, to help you change before you bathe. If anyone needs anything, ring for it. You're all known to the staff. Speaking of which--" she looks at Steven, then Aiden. "I don't know a Sarete. Is she a thief, a forger, a slaver or anything else related to the seamy underworld?"
Steven blinks to Kabi, and murmurs, "Lord Pelor, I hope she isn't.... No, she isn't, kabi. She's a member of the Summer Court.
She's a tart, Lauren almost says, before New Lauren smacks her and tells her to play nice. "She's Steven's uh wife."
Steven murmurs, "Fiancee."
Kabi chuckles. "She's not likely to be there, then. This will not be a Court party, more of an Important People who aren't welcome in Court sort of affair."
Steven nods to Kabi. "All right, then. That shouldn't be a problem."
Aiden says, "Well then, that shouldn't be a problem."
Steven murmurs out of the side of his mouth to Aiden, "Jinx."
Aiden grins at Steven.
"So you two are going to get prettied up, right? I want to get this stupid corset off and get a BATH before we head out again. Are we okay?" Lauren eyeballs her brothers. "Anything else we need to figure out?"
Tilting her head, Kabi says "I'll be borrowing your other allies today while you rest, if that's alright... a few small things to do here and there. Kip, Grennit and Melierel have been eager to assist. Seodil and Soleil need the rest as much as you do, of course, after last night-- I can have them stationed with my people tonight, though. Outside, to help provide you backup if you need it. I just don't think that Lauren can bring four pets. Too much like a private army."
Aiden nods at Kabi. "So long as they're up for it, I don't see why you couldn't ask them." He turns to Lauren and says, "I'll do what I can. See you back here later, then?"
Steven nods, "Undestandable, Kabi. No need to be threatening to everyone." He pauses. "So besides the rescue of the kids last night, just so we know, what else have you been doing to be the Metropolitan Mage of Mystery, Lauren?"
Lauren murrs. "Oh, this and that. Mostly running ALL over town being seen and then disappearing. It was fun for the first few hours." She leaves out the part about being seen in sewer tunnels, and in the back rooms of stinky bad taverns, and in dingy alleys.
Kabi nods back to Aiden, then pauses. "Speaking of... where is Soleil? I tried to send him a token of thanks at the room I thought you were staying in together, but he's not there."
Aiden looks at Kabi with eyes that are a little wider than they probably ought to be. "I'm.. not sure."
Steven frowns, loking between Kabi and Aiden. "Let's find him."
Lauren says, "Oh god, he didn't run off or anything. Did he? He DIDN'T."
Aiden's voice is quiet, "Maybe? I don't know."
Sounding faintly alarmed, Kabi says "Do you need me to help search for him? --Yes. You do. I'll go see to it now." She walks quickly toward the door.
Lauren wonders aloud. "Do you suppose there was someone he really wanted to see?"
Aiden looks alarmed when Kabi goes rushing off to the door. He's not exactly leaping up to join the search, though.
Steven just shakes his head to Lauren, then says, "Right. Let's check the rooms we've been given. I'll take a look up at Clair's hiding place behind the window."
Steven heads out and up the stairs at a brisk pace.
The man-height stained glass window is just where Steven last left it, at the top landing of the stairs. It looks, as always, quite solid.
Aiden watches the door, nervously.
Steven pauses, trying to remember how to get -- oh, right. Only people of Clair's bloodline. He heads back down the stairs, looking for Seodil.
Steven knocks on the door to the room that Aiden, Seodil, and Sol are sharing. "Seodil?"
After mere seconds, Seodil slides the door back, fully dressed and serene. "I am here, Steven." No one else is in the room behind him, though the bathroom door is shut and thus of unknown occupancy.
Lauren taps Aiden's shoulder. "Ahem," she says. "Aiiiidennn."
Aiden looks up at Lauren, "Yeah?"
Lauren, ever so sweetly, asks: "What's Sol doing?"
Aiden looks like he's pinned in place. "I don't know."
It occurs to Steven, as his gaze sweeps the empty room behind Seodil, that he only sees two backpacks in the corner where there used to be three.
Steven's eyes widen, and his gaze goes back to Seodil. Crap. This just turned three shades of 'worse.' "Have you seen Soleil?" he asks calmly, or at least tries to sound calmly.
Lauren inches closer to Aiden, feeling VERY much in-character. "You do," she says. "Come on. Out with it."
Aiden shakes his head, "No, I don't Lauren. I really don't." The eyes are still wide. Guilty?
Lauren narrows her eyes. "Then why are you looking like that? I KNOW you know something."
Seodil's silver eyes look uncommonly gentle as he answers. "Not since last night, Steven. He has decided to change rooms."
Steven ahs a little, relaxing, but just a little. "All right. Do you know which room? Kabi was trying to get hold of him...."
Aiden looks up at Lauren with big eyes. He blinks a few times and says, "I haven't seen him since last night."
Seodil shakes his head, but steps out into the hallway. "Has anyone seen him, Steven, or can he not be found?" If Steven didn't know Seodil, he might think that note in his voice was worry... but Seodil, worried about Sol?
Lauren gets big eyes too. "He ran off! Was there a fight or something? Was it a sex thing?"
Aiden looks like he's about to cry. He stands up and mumbles something apologetic before fleeing the room.
Steven frowns. You don't know what room he went.... He rubs his forhead. Not again.... "No, but then again, nobody has been looking for him. Kabi tried to send word to the room that he was given but he wasn't there -- here, I mean." He looks up. "All right. The matron should know what room he went to...."
Lauren stands in the now-empty room. She nods to herself and says, quietly, "Sex thing."
Seodil nods, and steps back into the room, reaching into the door. Bells tinkle, and uncannily soon afterward a pretty little thing comes trotting up the hallway, plumed tail swishing. "How may I be of service?" She is the tiniest centaur Steven's ever seen. Not, of course, that this is saying very much.
Steven smiles to the centaur...ette. "We're looking for a friend of ours.He may have switched rooms late last night or early this morning?"
It doesn't seem to bother Seodil that she's dressed in glitter and jewelry. He doesn't actually seem to notice, as he describes Soleil in helpful accompaniment to Steven's query. The little centaur nods seriously. "I will locate him for you, if he is present-- is he likely to be engaged with our staff?"
Seodil looks remarkably helpless, briefly. "I... do not know."
The centaurette nods again, smoothly, and promises to locate Soleil regardless. She goes, leaving Steven and Seodil once more alone.
Seodil looks at Steven. "How is Aiden?" The silver elf's tone is quiet, even sympathetic.
Steven nods and thanks the centaurette. he glances to Seodil at the question. "He was.. all right when I left him but looking like he was getting nervous."
Steven lets out a breath. "All right. What happened."
Lauren pokes her head into the hallway. So it was a sex thing. Geez. That doesn't mean he can just run AWAY..."AIDEN?" she calls. "Come back! We can talk about something else!"
"They are," Seodil says softly, "no longer a pair."
Steven rubs his eyes a little and nods. "I see...."
Aiden's already long gone from Lauren's immediate range. By the time she pokes her head out, he's knocking on the door of the room that Melierel and Kip share.
Melierel's voice calls, muffled by ricepaper walls and wood, "Come."
Lauren swishes down the hall, searching without much hurry. Unless Aiden leaves the building, she'll meet up with him eventually.
Aiden opens the door just enough to poke his head inside the room. "Am I interrupting?"
Melierel shakes his head, looking brighter when he sees it's Aiden. "Not at all, please, come in. I was just getting over feeling out of sorts that you and your wife get to have all the fun." He smiles, clearly in good humor.
Aiden steps in and closes the door behind himself. "We just broke up.." He stays right there at the door, looking lost.
Lauren takes a left at Albequerque and checks out another hallway. "AIDENNNN," she calls again.
Out in the hallway, Lauren's path ahead is blocked by the emergence of a tall, broad-shouldered young man in tight black leather pants, a narrow flame-orange silk vest, and tiger-striped hair in those same colors. Black, elvish-looking lines trace his bare arms, the skin tawny between the dark patterns. Lauren's yell startles him, and he spins. The patterns continue across his shoulders and half-bared chest, down into the pants. His eyes are orange, in a pretty face mostly untouched by black except for some smoky eyeliner and a tasteful few lines of tribal elvish theme.
Melierel's face and tone change immediately as he rises, crossing to Aiden and standing uncertainly before him. "Oh, Aiden," he says quietly. And holds out his arms.
Aiden swipes away a few tears that slip down his cheeks before sinking into the offered hug.
Lauren notices almost immediately that the person blocking her path is a very familiar face indeed. It's Sol.
"Wha..huh? Hey!" Lauren catches herself in time not to give away Sol's disguise. "What happened? Everyone's looking for you."
Supporting Aiden as they stand, Melierel waits awhile to ask anything, letting Aiden take comfort. Eventually, he does speak. It's very gentle. "Want to tell me what happened, my friend?"
Sol stifles a yawn by half-cramming his fist into his mouth. "Nnh. What time is it? Morning yet? ..nnh."
Aiden sniffs a couple of times and then backs up and out of the hug, "Thank you. We're just.. not that good for each other. He deserves better than someone who can't give him what he wants.. so I let him go in the hopes that he'd find it.. somewhere."
"It's afternoon," Lauren replies curtly. "Not even EARLY afternoon anymore. You look like you went out and raved 'til dawn, then passed out in an alley and got spray-painted. What the hell have you been doing?"
"Ahhh, Aiden," Melierel sighs, and takes Aiden's hands gently to pull him down, seating them both. "I'm truly sorry. Are you going to be all right? You're still friends, yes?"
Aiden nods, "I'll be okay, I think. I don't know if we're friends anymore. I don't even know where he is."
Sol gives Lauren an eminently cranky look. "Sleeping, apparently. Must've fallen asleep while they were working on me, they took for damn ever but at least it shut them up. Afternoon? Shit. C'mon, let's go." He strides forward and then pauses. "Where are they?" Up close, it's plain that if there wasn't eyeliner on him he'd look even more like he spent most of the night crying.
Lauren points down the hall. "That way. I think. Aiden ran off. Don't know where Seodil is. Steven's getting his claws done."
Melierel sighs and pulls Aiden forward for another hug, long dark hair tangling with Aiden's dirty blonde. "I'll go find him if you want... or I'll stay here." His hands smooth the cloth over Aiden's back, soothing touch like one might give a hurt child-- or a hurt adult. "I'm sure he'll be all right. It may just take time..."
Aiden shakes his head, "It's okay.. Everyone else is looking for him. Thank you."
Sol snorts at the suggestion regarding Steven. "The girls here will paint anything that holds still. I'm sure he is. --Aiden ran off?" Orange eyes widen, suspiciously damp all of a sudden. "What happened?" The elf sounds alarmed.
Melierel nods into Aiden's hair and keeps the hug steady. "Of course, Aiden. Of course. Stay as long as you like."
Lauren lifts both pencilled brows nearly to her hairline. "Sex thing?" she hints. "He bolted after I asked about you. You tell me what the hell happened."
Sol's face crumbles, and he actually wilts into tears right before Lauren's eyes. It takes him a few tries to speak coherently, and it's very soft. Heartbroken. "S'over. Doesn't want me anymore."
Lauren points down the hall again, looking alarmed. "I'm not a counselor," she protests. "Don't try to cry on me. Just go talk to HIM. I think something's gotten fucked up in translation here."
Soleil looks at Lauren... and covers his face with his hands to muffle the sobs, as he sits down in a miserable pile in the hallway.
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