| Logs |
2005 February 20
| Idlewild |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Idlewild Logs |
February 20
Steven wakes in the morning, making his usual exercises a bit abbreviated since he needs to find Lauren before breakfast and explain what happened to the others.
Lauren has been up for a while, jittering around in the hallways and the aquarium room in a Pink Velvet-issue set of PJs. She didn't sleep much, despite trying.
Steven blinks as he comes upon Lauren still in pyjamas. "Lauren? Are you all right?"
Lauren finds the hallways quiet as usual, but for a few servers-- and the aquarium room likewise, but with pastries. And now Steven.
"STEVEN they're going to take over this place AND home. Give me food and stop staring." Lauren descends on what is, by default, breakfast.
The food noticeably fails to protect itself, in a sweet, sugary and fruit-filled fashion.
Steven sighs softly. "Yes, well... not if we can help it, I imagine is the typical answer." He walks into the aquarium room with her, and decides to be rather blunt. "Aiden, Sol, Seodil, and Clair went to see if they could deal with Haasha's army before it's... 'born,' I guess you could say."
Lauren mrrfs out some crumbs. "Haasha wants the Grey World. Can you IMAGINE Haasha owning Los Angeles GOD." Chew. Swallow. Ingest. "What? He's got an army, now?"
Steven says, "I have no idea what he wants the Grey World for, to be honest. And yes, at some point he will have an army. The children were going to have helped grow it. Hopefully Aiden's group will be able to take care of it."
Lauren stops eating to think. "There are four of them," she points out. "Four. Against Haasha, and his army. Seriously, what the hell are they thinking?"
Steven sits down with a bit of a sigh, starting on breakfast himself if Lauren has left any. "They're hoping to do a quick, quiet, devastating raid. Probably by burning down Haasha's army before it's grown to full size.
"Meh," says Lauren, letting Steven poach some of her breakfast. "Fine so they're doing that. That means WE have to deal with Rath and his mother. They want this world. Rath gets summer and Elis gets Winter."
Steven nods quietly. "We won't let them succeed, of course. I think we have a chance of doing it. We're at an early enough stage where we can work slowly still and gather our strength. In the meantime, do you think you can still act as the Beast Lady, or Queen, or whatever?"
Lauren shrugs. "He wants to marry me. Probably."
Steven makes a quiet sound. "Probably. And make you his wife until he decides you're no longer useful. That family has a nasty history of spousicide."
Kip strolls in on the heels of Lauren's comment, scowling. "His mother ate his father. With her teeth. Sol told me."
Lauren says, "I didn't say I was going to. I'd never marry him. I can't be the damn Beast Queen forever, and as soon as he saw me stumbling around in the morning with no makeup he's probably stab me in disgust. But we nee...oh. Hi, Kip.""
Lauren clears her throat. "I guess we need to do something about him somehow. I have no idea what."
Steven nods a little to Kip, sighing. "Probably wasn't the first one, either," he mutters. "Good morning, Kip. Well. One of the reasons Claire left was because he could not bring himself to kill his friend. I think that kind of underlines what we'll ahve to eventually do.
Eyeing Lauren grumpily, Kip looks oddly mollified after a moment. Most of the grump goes away. "Well. As long as you don't really mean it..." He nods to Steven, soberly. "I'll help, of course. So will Meli, he said... what's the plan?"
Lauren dabs up some crumbs and frosting with the pad of her thumb. "We need to kill him, I think, and we'll probably need to do it tonight 'cause he doesn't want to wait on my answer about the kids. And THEN we have to deal with his mother."
Slim little Kip tosses his hair back over his shoulder with a wolfish smile. "I'll help you kill him. ...He asked you to be his Queen?"
Steven frowns a little, then nods to Lauren, sighing. "Good point. Blast. I'd hoped to have more time." he looks around. "We shoudl find Kabi and talk with her. She'll know more about this.
Lauren leans over and squishes Kip's bony self in a long hug. "Mrrf," she says fervently. "Kabi, huge cats, and Ilirith."
Grennit wanders in, and gives Kip's hug a veiled look. "Word came from Ayali and Zhi-- that little mage you rescued is taking a turn for the worse, and they'll be helping Hellebore with her all day, and likely night. It ought to be fine, but they're going to be beat, so don't count on them for much... what'd I miss?"
Steven frowns to Grennit, standing. "Frangipani's doing worse? Oh, no."
Kip makes a surprised little noise at the hug but gives as good as he gets. He's smiling when he turns to fill Grennit in. It might be just a tad smug.
Lauren detaches gradually, and does not look encouraged. "So it's just us, then?"
Steven nods a bit grimly to Lauren. "I'm afraid so."
Grennit nods to Steven between listening to Kip's recap. "She was, but they're working on it. Hellebore needed the extra strength, so they volunteered. --Look, don't count me out. I can... well." She sighs, deflating. "I'm not a warrior, but if you want to poison someone..."
Steven says softly, "It may come to that Grennit. I don't know what it'll take to kill them."
Kabi joins the group, Ilirith and Melierel in tow. Another quick recap, and the little group settles into a semi-circle on couches, all the pastries gone.
Lauren mumbles 'Moops' before wiping her nose on her sleeve. "About all I can do is distract him. I suppose...um, sex. If I had to. You could probably stab or poison him then."
Kabi says, "Alright. So. We have Steven and Lauren on the inside tonight, and the rest of us support the two of you. Lauren, we'll send you with poison. Steven, you've killed before... I will ask, is he useful in any way alive? Is it worth the risk of capture? We still need to take out Herself."
Steven shakes his head. "That puts you in too compromising and vulnerable a situation. I'd rather that didn't happen. No, it has to happen before then." He considers for a moment. "If we could get them together. Rath and Elis, both in the same room. Not as safe as if we split them, but we can get them together and guarantee that one isn't warned by the other's demise before we can get to them."
Steven winces at the mention of having killed before. "I have, but.. I didn't enjoy it or am particularly eager to do it again. But in this case, it's a matter of ending an injustice, and so it needs to be done." he considers, then frowns. "I can't think of any reason to keep him alive, and every reason to not. And he's probably extremely dangerous if captured. Unless... I don't know. I don't know what else he might know.."
Lauren fidgets. "Steven, we don't have TIME to get them in the same room. He wants a solid Yes or No tonight, and if I say yes we'll have to hand over the kids. If I say No he'll probably get violent. Gotta do it tonight."
Steven considers. "Can you make it so you agree to hand over the kids to Herself? Besides, I'm sure he'd like to introduce his future bride to dear Mother."
Lauren makes a pained groan and looks around the room in hopes someone will offer to do it for her. "That means I'd have to be with BOTH of them. I can't charm Elis. I do NOT want to be with both of them."
Kabi nods. "So, what about a third date?" She grins. "If we have him make the deal tonight, to have Lauren meet Herself tomorrow-- and then he's not there tomorrow, but we are?" She grins, much like Kip. "If he gives any trouble, hm... Grennit, can you make a dose for sleeping, or only for killing? We could give Lauren a small dagger, coat it with something useful, in case of problems?"
Steven says, "Lauren, I'll be with you. And I doubt the others will be very far off. You don't have to charm her. You just need to get her into the same room." He considers, then nods, "And I know exactly where that'll be." He glances to Illirith. "There's a reason why nobody here has been able to find her. I think she's at her beach house. And there is an open portal to that place in Rath's chambers where you were last night, Lauren. I couldsmell the sea air through it." He nods to Kabi. "That's a good idea.""
Lauren nods to Kabi too, and too Steven. "Okay, I'll say yes and set up something else. This should be a short meeting--hell, I could even send a message instead of showing up myself. I'm a nervous wreck about all of this."
Steven nods, "Tell him you need this time to get them to a suitable place where he can pick them up." He taops his chin. "Might make him suspicious, but there's nothing to be done about it now. Just have to allay his suspicions as best as possible. Oh... and don't get hit by any darts from him. Fair warning, if he doses you tonight with a truth drug like what Clairchiare hit you with, we'll have to take him then and there. We can't risk him finding anything out and letting Elis know." He sighs and shakes his head. "Hate this," he mutters, rubbing his eyes.
Kip nods seriously to Steven. "We'll be as close as they let us. You need us now Aiden and the others have gone. We won't be with you, but we're your backup." Melierel nods, equally serious, and adds his piece in a deeper voice. "I heard what you did last night, Lauren. It took courage... you will do well again." He looks at Steven and smiles. "If Ilirith can assist, I will gladly stand by your side tonight in Aiden's place. I don't doubt your strength, but if you could use the backup..."
Grennit looks deeply unhappy. "Truth drug... I can't provide you with an antidote if I don't know exactly what something is. I'm sorry." The pale redhead sounds distressed.
Lauren looks a little teary at this show of solidarity. SHe fans a dopily grateful look around the room. "Message it is, then. I'll get to writing, huh? We should be ready to do our thing, uh, tomorrow night."
Steven nods to Meleriel; for the time being he can forget Mel's repeated veiled threats against Lauren. "Thank you. I hope we won't need it but if we do, it'd be much appreciated." He nods to Kabi as well. "We'll have to come up with an alternate plan for getting Elis if we have to kill Rathskeliad tonight." He glances to Grennit, then grins a little. "there might be some around here, though it's what Clairchiare uses and not neccessarilly Rath.
Lauren says, "...so who are we killing when, now? I'm all confused again."
Kabi chews her lip. "And how to deliver that message? Steven? ..Ahh, pity we can't use that truth juice on your Rathskeliad. I'd like to know if he's lying to Lauren." She sighs, shrugs philosophically. "Better think of a plan for if he refuses that meeting, too.."
Lauren stomps a foot. "Look. There's a portal in Rath's rooms, so we kill him and barge RIGHT in there to take care of Elis afterwards. Much less complicated."
Steven says, "If he accepts the message to meet tomorrow night, and hopefully agrees to have you meet his mom so she can 'expedite receipt' of what he wants, as well as introduce you to him...." He sighs. "Tomorrow night, both he and her." He nods to Kabi. "I imagine he'll refuse that meeting and suggest a place more to his liking." Damn it all! When did I start thinking like an assassin? Forgive me, Lord Pelor. After this.. hells. Even in this, no casual killing for me, I swear. If I can disable anyone but Shh and Rath, without killing them, I will, I swear."
After his silent vow about casual killing, Steven feels a warm, golden glow of approval in his chest, like being bathed in strong sunlight. Things feel brighter, for a time, and not quite as dreadful.
Steven blinks to Lauren. "Uhm. Good point. That should work. No use worrying on how to get back, since either the portal will still work or it won't.
Lauren nods emphatically. "It's almost the same room anyway."
Steven says, "If he brings you back there." He bites his lip. "He wants to meet you there tonight, doesn't he?""
"Yes, he does. So everything is fine and according to the new plan. Right." With a nod, Lauren sits back. "We have until tonight."
Stepping to the door, Kabi rings the small, half-hidden service bell. A few moments later, the little woman returns with a handful of plain, creamy paper and a pot of ink. She hands them to Lauren, with a dipping-pen. "For composing-- if you do."
Steven sighs, and nods. "We're back to tonight, then. All right."
Lauren says, "Bill of lading," Lauren mumbles, and starts writing. "He'll want a list." Scritch scritch."
Steven lets out a breath, a bit more comfortable about this, but still somewhat unhappy. As if a nervous gesture, he wipes his hands on his pants legs. "All right. We'll make plans for tonight, then." He nods a little to Lauren, then glances to Kabi. "I take it that the 'bill of lading' is for the children?
Lauren nods. "Yup. Should I put Dessis on it? I'll put her on it."
Steven nods a little. "I'm thinking actually that there might have been one in the warehouse."
Lauren shrugs equably, writing. "I'm just keeping myself busy, here. I figure tonight I'll have to keep him distracted while you guys do your thing, maybe stab him if I get a chance, and then we all storm over and get Elis. If I think about it too much I'll start chittering, so."
Kabi winces. "Yes. Do." She scrubs her small fists across her eyes. "Might, Steven. Is it worth going back for?"
Steven bites his lip, then nods. "It might be. He might be expecting the bill of lading to be in a certain format. Unless of course, he's not going to see the bill until just before we... you know. Then it won't make much of a difference. But if it might affect wether he'll show up or not... it's osmethign we might want to consider."
Kip scoots a little closer, to lean slightly against Lauren's left shoulder. Grennit pats her right, then stands. "I'm going to go see what I can make you. Sleep, and death. Right? Anything else?"
Kabi tilts her head at Steven. "Honestly, I don't think it'll matter. He wants the children, not the paper." Her voice drops to include only Steven's ears. "If it gives her something to keep calm, it's useful enough." She smiles.
"He'll show up," Lauren snaps at Steven. "He wants me to be his dark Queen and we have his kids. Stop WORRYING, all right? No more goddamn second guessing!" She catches herself before launching into a rant, and adds more gently, "Yah. Death AND sleep. Maybe something so I can nap. ANyway, Steven...it'll be okay."
Steven smiles a bit to Kabi and nods. Then he blinks at Lauren. "er... okay. Sure, sorry."
Grennit leans over and kisses Lauren lightly on the forehead. "I'll take care of it." She smiles. "You'll do fine." Quick and elfin, she departs.
Kabi stands, too. "Ring for anything you want, today-- food, women, men. Have it sent to your rooms. The House will be happy to provide; it's our city you fight for. It's settled, then? Tonight you meet him again, and you try to kill him? Or do you wait to assure killing Herself before you kill him?"
Lauren scritches on her paper, leaning cozily against Kip. It's nice. In short order she starts yawning. "Rath first, then Herself. Right, Steven?"
Steven fidgets a little, thinking. No second guessing. He nods a little. "Rath first. Then through the portal to get Herself. See if you can get from him where she might be to accept the 'delivery,' we might have to ad lib a bit if she's not in her beach house."
Lauren chews a lip over her piece of writing. "I'll try. Go have some fun or something." Because I swear we're all going to buy the farm. God.
Steven nods a little to Lauren. his interest at the moment does not include women -- or men -- or food, for that matter. he nods to himself as he stands. "Illirith," he says quietly. "Could you do me a favor? In case something happens tonight," no need to go into detail what that 'something' might be, "could you get a letter to Sarete." He smiles a bit, and adds as much for the others as himself, "Not that I expect anything bad to happen to us, mind you. For all I know that portal will close behind us and I'm going to have a heck of a time explaining to Sarete why I was here for so long and didn't say 'hello!'" That, he hoopes, will be the worst that could happen. he hopes.
Ilirith nods, with the sort of look in her eyes that suggests she heard what Steven didn't say out loud. "I can. In fact, if you like, I might be able to do better than that."
Steven blinks a little at Ilirith, not quite getting her meaning.
Ilirith tugs Steven's arm. "If we have the right ingredients on hand, I can get you there and back before tonight... if you'd prefer."
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