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Realms: Taps Logs

Your Beauty Lost to You Yourself

Suraksha steps quietly into Sna'thaid's wagon -- the one where the prisoner is being held -- nodding to Rattler and Sna'tha as she settled where Alg used to be. The prisoner is sitting on the floor tailor-fashion, with their hands bound and their eyes covered. Sura raises an inquiring eyebrow: what's been learned to date? She takes that moment to study the prisoner as well, both physically and metaphysically. What do the chakras say? Sna'thaid says, "We've learned how he almost got past Alg, but it's not an ability I've seen in a human before... and I'm pretty sure he is human." Up close 'Chana can smell that the prisoner seems to be wearing something that's basically "essence of nature": scents of plants that deaden the scent of person underneath.

Suraksha nods silently, waiting for Sna'tha to explain... and carefully studying the prisoner's chakras for clues. The chakras are strong, though the Will and Synthesis chakras are stronger than the others. Suraksha is sure this person is indeed both human, and not Doris, though the chakras are quite similar. She wonders a bit worriedly if Doris too can do the sneaking thing that this entity did. That'd be disturbing. Also disturbing is that this entity's chakras are just as powerful as Doris's... so it would not appear this person is just another battery.

Sna'thaid watches her godsdaughter take in the information she can get from the man sitting on the floor. Rattler is here too, his arms crossed tightly over his chest and looking flat-eyed. Suraksha finally sighs, glancing over to Sna'tha almost impatiently. Her whisper is to hide her identity, as she asks, "What's wrong, that you're making me actually ask for what you've learned?"

Sna'thaid says, "I'm not. We just haven't learned much. He's apparently had some training on how to resist questioning. The big guy here," she tips her head toward Rattler, "was all for breaking a few bones, but even that didn't seem to faze him."

Suraksha says thoughtfully, "You said you learned how he almost got past Alg. You've not explained that." She frowns, studying her godsmother for a long moment... then she rises and steps over, running her hands down Sna'tha's shoulder, "Are you feeling all right, godsmama?" She's quietly relieved to feel two arms on each side, under the glamour. She turns to Rattler, not explaining herself yet as she steps up to give him a hug. She knows intimately how he feels, after all.

Sna'thaid smiles and nods when 'Chana does that, realizing right away what she's doing, "Indeed. He'd made himself look like part of the scenery. Almost like he was invisible."

Rattler wraps his arms around her and then slides his hands down her sides to her hips, hands settling naturally and easily into their 'normal' place. He relaxes slightly and kisses 'Chana's nose. Suraksha sighs in relief again -- then dimples as he kisses her nose! She grins and leans her head against his chest for a moment... then sighs again, "Well, no rest for the wicked." She straightens, turning in Rattler's arms so she faces the man, and takes a moment to locate his chakras again. "So... calling you 'gentleman we found snooping around our encampment' is somewhat unwieldy. What is your name, please, sir?"

The man's expression -- what can be seen of it -- doesn't change, and he doesn't answer her, simply sitting still and quiet. His Will chakra flares as this happens, however, as he concentrates on doing and saying nothing.

Suraksha tilts her head thoughtfully at that, wondering how she can take advantage of this. She steps forward out of Rattler's arms, walking slowly around the man so he can hear her, and starts asking more soft, insidiously simple, unassuming questions, "Where are you from? Is this your normal body? Who do you work for? How long have you been here?" She's watching carefully for his Will's reaction: does it flare anew for each question, or does a plethora of them get only one reaction? She lightly touches his skin with her fingertips, just under his ear -- a rather intimate and startling place to be touched -- as she keeps talking, and watching his chakras for their reaction to this intrusion into his personal privacy, "What is your name? Do you have family here? Are you married?"

The prisoner sits and apparently stares into his blindfold. He doesn't move and his breathing stays very slow and very even in the way of someone who is meditating and concentrating on his breathing. His Will chakra flares and dims with the questions. If there are several in quick succession, it stays flared through all of them. The touch causes the Will chakra to flare brighter than anything else and 'Chana's sensitive nose catches a whiff of fear as that happens.

Suraksha tilts her head thoughtfully at that, intrigued. Being touched requires more of his Will, eh? She wonders if she can effectively wear him out. Hmm... probably. But right now she hasn't the time nor the inclination to do so. She stands back to speak to her companions -- then pauses. Why fear at touch? Unless... he's using glamour right now? She kneels silently behind the man, brushing her hands over him and continuing to question him as she does so -- she simply repeats what she asked before, but mixed up so it's not easy to ignore. She wishes faintly as she does so that she could bring Bringer here. He'd understand the man's emotions far better than she.

The touch again causes fear, though it's hard to smell under whatever is being used for the masking scent. The basic bone-structure feels the same, which Sura knows makes it easier to hold the glamour: the closer the glamour is to the reality, the less concentration it takes. Suraksha smiles faintly as she also realizes the "he" is actually a "she." That should help jangle up the girl's self-control too. Sura lets her hands slide away from the woman... then, just as the prisoner is giving an almost imperceptible sigh of relief at the lack of touch -- and as her Will chakra relaxes for a fraction of an instant -- Sura pricks the girl lightly in the same delicate, sensitive area of skin that she started with. Simultaneously, when the prisoner's responses are hopefully somewhat jangled, Sura hisses commandingly next to the small ear, "Answer me!"

The body-check takes rather a lot of self-control for the woman to stay still throughout; her Will chakra flares like a small yellow sun to keep from moving when 'Chana's hands move impersonally over her hips and breasts. The prick beneath her ear causes another flare and so she's off-balance at the abrupt command -- and she snaps back, "No!" Then she gasps, shocked that anything at all came out -- her training has been very thorough.

Suraksha sits back, deeply shocked. She has never had such a good connection, and yet still had her command voice ignored! She's silent for a moment, then simply says, "What is your name."

The prisoner says, "Elise," -- then gasps and throws herself backward, thrashing -- going from utterly still to violent motion all at once and with no warning. She cries, "No-ooo!"

Suraksha pins the girl down, not really surprised to hear that name. She snaps, "Stop that yelling!" then quickly adds, "Why were you spying on us and what have you learned?"

Rattler sits up very straight and Sna'thaid leans in, eyes bright. This is information she's been trying to get herself. Elise is struggling still and the words sound like she's fighting them every step of the way. "Mama said to. She wants the dark girl. She thinks the girl might be a Tap. There are people here that can see through my illusions." She goes on, head rocking back and forth in negation the whole time, "And I think there are Taps here. Maybe even non-humans with their magicks."

Suraksha keeps the questions coming, "What is your mama's goal in this town? Why does she want Taps and non-humans? Who does she report to?" Elise's answers are coming fast enough to get tumbled up together and some of the words aren't too clear at first. On first listening, mostly it seems like what Doris is after is breeding stock and an outpost. The name Elise says to the last question -- Sean Crowninshield -- makes Rattler stand up so abruptly that he bangs his head on the upper bunk that's mostly folded away, which makes him swear.

Suraksha glances inquiringly at the others, wondering if they have any questions... then she raises her eyebrow at Rattler and tilts her head towards the girl: does he want questions about Baton Rouge asked? She continues asking questions as she does so, in order to get as much information as she can, however: who is working with Elise and her mother, does Elise have backup tonight, and when is she expected back? She whispers very, very softly, almost below hearing level, as the girl replies to questions: "You want to keep talking... it's such a relief, isn't it? You don't want to stop talking -- you want to let it all out..."

Rattler hesitates -- then, carefully trying to strip his accent out of his voice, he asks, "Is this the only outpost they're setting up?" Elise continues to answer the questions, but her glamour drops as she diverts more and more of her will toward trying to stop her traitorous tongue.

Elise grits her teeth and snarls, "Stop that! Stop it! What did you do to me? What drug is this?" The tears are still flowing, but they seem to be angry tears rather than anything else.

Suraksha takes a deep breath -- this is way too important now for them to let this girl get away. She focuses herself for a moment, then commands again, "Answer!"

Elise screams, "No! It's not! There are several more -- we're the crossroads for now!" She screams wordlessly again, anger and frustration in her voice at not being able to stop herself talking.

Suraksha's face tightens in anger, and she says firmly, "Stop screaming and answer coherently: what is the plan of attack for these outposts? What is the ultimate goal and how does Sean Crowninshield tie into this?" She'll feel sorry for the girl later; right now this is the only clue they have as to whether they're marching the entire caravan forward into certain capture and/or death!

Elise's voice is tight with the struggle to not answer, but the words keep coming in a steady, coherent kind of way. The plan that she outlines is audacious and enormous: Sean Crowninshield plans on setting himself up as King -- and not just a small King, the way Roy is, but King of the entire continent. This is why they're breeding for Tapping ability... and they're slowly eliminating any Taps that won't join with them.

Suraksha checks for the plan regarding the non-humans: how does Crowninshield intend to handle the infamously capricious fey courts, for example? Also, how does he intend to cross the continent reliably -- considering the Amazons are also notably uninterested in conquerors? The plan, as Elise seems to understand it, appears to be building strength of arms and either conquer those that won't yield or offer alliances to those that might rival Crowninshield in strength. Elise is trembling throughout with the effort to buck off Suraksha's control, and her Will chakra is glaring so bright 'Chana is surprised the others can't see it.

Suraksha sighs quietly, glancing at her godsmother -- this has gotten to the point where the petty details are important, and that's the sort of thing which the White Dagger is best at ferreting out. She whispers to Sna'tha, "Ask what you need for as long as we can, so we stay safe, please."

Sna'tha has been carefully watching what 'Chana is doing and the way the girl is reacting. Her eyes narrow and she sets in, asking questions; Elise answers them under the influence of the command from 'Chana. Roy watches with tight eyes and a lip curled in an unconscious sneer. He left Chicago to be out from under people's thumbs; this is personally repugnant to him. Suraksha feels horrible; she hates seeing her lover looking repulsed around her! After a while Elise seems to calm and seems more bewildered than angry that she's answering all these queries. Eventually Sna'tha asks, "And when will your mother start to worry that you haven't come back?"

Elise's voice holds a hint of almost derision, "Mama's having her entertainments for the night. She isn't expecting me back until daylight."

When Elise's demeanor changes so visibly, Suraksha says in quiet worry to Sna'tha, "Wait, please. I want to check she's all right." Her voice is gentle as she murmurs, "Girl, how are you feeling?" and checks Elise's chakras. The girl's Will chakra is no longer flaring -- indeed, it's barely lit. Most of her chakras have dimmed, except her third eye and her crown chakra. Every line of the girl's body reads exhausted and dejection, and with her glamour gone, it's clear in her face. Suraksha is faintly perplexed by that. Did she actually wear out the girl's chakras? She'd not realized that was even possible. She waits, increasingly concerned as Elise doesn't answer.

When Elise does finally answer, she sounds confused, "Where... who are you?"

That answer brings Roy to stand straight up and Sna'tha to crouch down beside the girl, faceted eyes narrowed. Suraksha blinks in surprise, but answers readily enough, "You're at the caravan, remember? You told us you were spying on us for your mother...?"

Elise shakes her head and tries to reach for her blindfold, "Who... where? Caravan?" She sounds genuinely confused and slurry, almost drunk or just dead tired.

Suraksha's glance up at Sna'tha is as astonished as her voice, "That... was truth!" She looks back at the girl, gently keeping her from pulling the blindfold off.

Sna'tha breathes words that sound lovely, being the fae tongue, but which 'Chana recognizes as being a curse. Her godsmother's voice sounds almost awed, "Puppet."

Suraksha gives her godsmother a hard look. "No. Surely not -- to her very daughter?!"

Roy's voice is rough, "You've seen what she's done here. Do you really put it past her?"

Elise still seems confused -- and now maybe a little panicked as well, "Who are you people?! My mama will pay a good ransom!"

Suraksha's soft voice is pained, "Oh my Goddess... the poor child!" She sighs, glancing at Sna'tha as she adds, "I... am going to release her, godsmama. From her bonds, I mean. She's had enough horrible happen to her tonight." She strokes a hand lightly along Elise's hair, murmuring, "Calm, calm, child... you are safe." Sna'tha nods, face solemn. Roy shakes his head, disgust still showing in his face that anyone would do this to their own child, despite his own recent assertion that Doris has it in her. Elise is still crying, though not sobbing. Noble children are taught to stay calm when kidnapped. The line of her shoulders softens at 'Chana's soothing.

Suraksha gently lifts the blindfold and unfolds it, offering it to Elise as a hankie -- then she unties the ropes binding the girl's wrists. "Elise, dear one, just relax right now, all right? We'll get you some food, and you can sleep here if you're tired -- you've been out there watching all afternoon and evening, at least." She sighs and smiles in relief as Sna'tha leans out of her wagon and calls the request for food to a passing runner. To Rattler Sura says, "We'll need to hustle tonight, especially if Elise becomes a refugee... though she might wish to return to her mother regardless." To the distraught girl Sura says soothingly, "Rest, and when you wake up, if you want, we'll try to answer your questions, all right?"

Elise seems to be coming out of it. Her still-bright third-eye and crown chakras point toward the girl having an exceptionally quick mind. She blinks slowly around, realizing that these people are being far too kind and far too calm for kidnappers, even if she did come to bound and blindfolded, "Watching...." She's staring off into space, as if that has triggered a memory for her.

Suraksha wonders if the girl will want answers now, or will want to confront her mother. The Hetaera suspects if Elise does so, however... they will not be seeing her again -- and Doris will initiate an immediate attack. Suraksha sighs thoughtfully, and hopes Elise understands what was done to her without having to betray the caravaneers' complicity in the girl's escape from mental servitude.

The look of contemplation becomes a look of horror, and the girl's hands go to cover her mouth. "Oh... oh, no-ooo... oh, Mama..." The tears start anew and she begins rocking.

Suraksha adds quietly to her companions, "Ask Sabrina if she-" She cuts off at Elise's reaction -- then impulsively puts her arms loosely around the girl, rocking gently with her and murmuring soothing nothings.

Roy murmurs, "T'ink t'ings jus' snap back into place for de poor lamb." There's not even a trace of sarcasm.

Suraksha glances up to quietly finish her sentence, "Ask Sabrina if she and Fantine can take care of the, um... any new arrivals, please?" She knows there are hopefully six refugees from Erik Pawling who should be arriving tonight. After that, though, she goes back to trying her best to reassure the heartbroken young girl, "There, sweet, there... you're safe now, it's all right... let it all out..."

Sna'tha slips out of the wagon to go find Sabrina; the mother-like presence of the long-time caravaneer can only be soothing. Elise wraps her arms around 'Chana and continues to cry, sobbing almost silently against the woman's shoulder. Curiously, the girl's body language is off. It doesn't seem like that of a young adult, but of a younger person -- maybe someone just entering puberty. The unselfconscious crying is so different from the earlier fury.

Suraksha is rather perplexed by that, since physically the girl has clearly been an adult for several years -- she looks to be about 16, after all. The Hetaera narrows her eyes in sudden suspicion, then without ceasing in her gentle rocking, she murmurs to her godsmother, "Puppeting... does that overlay the personality? Keep them from... I don't know... learning and gaining in life experience?" She shifts politely to her godsmother's native tongue as she adds, "Because this body language is very different than what I saw at the mansion!"

Sna'tha says, "It... can. But only in very strict cases." She's also speaking in her native tongue, watching the girl as she adds, "If this girl's mother did this to her, her mother is a monster. Even the fae consider it gauche to use one's family so." Suraksha sighs in quiet grief for the girl, and simply goes back to gentle, soothing crooning again. She'll hold the poor child close until Elise's tears abate.

Roy shakes his head and murmurs, "She'll need ta come wid us, cher." By now he doesn't care if the girl knows who he is.

Suraksha nods and murmurs quietly, "If she wishes. I... won't control her, sweetheart. She deserves better than that, don't you think?" Elise is starting to wind down a little, but it seems to be out of sheer exhaustion. She's letting the smaller woman hold her, in a very trusting way. When Sabrina arrives to take the girl in hand and take her someplace safe and warm to sleep, Elise goes as meek as the lamb Roy called her. The Hetaera sees Elise off after some quietly whispered instructions to Sabrina to not leave the poor girl alone at all -- maybe ask one of the Sokoloff girls to stay with her? Once the door closes behind them, Suraksha simply stares at it for a moment, trying to control the shudders.

Roy doesn't try to control anything once Elise is out of the wagon. He starts cursing, and in that very creative Cajun way of his, spanning several languages and many decades of living. Suraksha wraps her arms tightly about herself, and prays silently to her Goddess that she never, never abuses someone like that! She was feeling wretched about the amount of control she'd been exerting, as it was. Finally Rattler says, "Cher, doan t'ink we can leave dis town wid Doris alive innit, me."

Suraksha looks up unhappily at her lover, her voice husky, "But how..." She clears her throat and tries again, "She's... part of a focused group, sweetheart. Will we... be murdering all of them?" She blinks, rubbing her eyes and trying not to cry as she adds, "Plus I... I wonder just how much d-different I am... wasn't I controlling her t-too?"

Rattler wraps 'Chana in his arms and whispers, "You were protectin' yo' family -- 'n you never meant to keep her as a puppet, cher."

Suraksha clings tightly to Rattler, resting her head on his shoulder. Her voice is choked up as she says, "Y-you -- both of you -- you won't ever let me get like that, will you? Y-you'll warn me first? P-please?"

Rattler's voice is gentle, "We never would, cher. Not ever."

Sna'tha rises and brackets her devastated godsdaughter, whispering, "Never, child." Suraksha closes her eyes in relief, and the tears leak out from beneath her lashes. She doesn't realize it, but she's grieving as much for the lost bond of loving motherhood between poor Elise and Doris... as she is for the poor girl's lost childhood.

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Last modified: 2010-Aug-28 20:29:49

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