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Reality Fault

Realms: Oloth Logs

New Title

(OOC) Fri Mar 30 1901 06:59 PM by "Dakini" at "Inner Dawnstar" (OOC)

(COM) Gala'maDred puts both bloody swords into his left hand, and fishes his shadowphone out. He flips it open and speaks into it. "This is Governor Dragonslayer. The Chirikh is returning to Arcana City with wounded Elven Imperial Fleet sailors. Please have healers ready. As well, I wish to speak to any Illithid ship captains who are in port at the moment, or any mindflayer wizards studying at Arcanus. Send someone to round them up. Politely, please."

Dakini looks up, "Ah, finally. Dred's finished killing things and Keesha's returning with wounded. Dred's decided to round up the Illithids and mindflayers in Arcana City now too."

Xarlen nods his head, turning toward Dakini. "That would be a good idea, too. To mentally check the wounded, I would think. The Neogi have psionics among them, and might've planted a seed of something in their minds."

Dakini eyes Harlequin with amusement, "I don't think they'll get far in Dammerung..."

Xarlen arches a brow. "Pardon?"

Dakini says, "Dammerung will simply temporarily swallow anyone that is thinking of harming someone else in here."

Dakini says, "It's not usually quite so temperamental... but this is a war."

Xarlen shakes his head. "No, no. The psionics might've planted a subconscious seed in there. It's not Obvious to the person, and may spring up days later..."

Dakini is still sitting relaxedly cross-legged on the floor in her armor, "If you say so."

Safix blinks. "Waitaminute... Harlequin, are you saying we should suspect our own wounded?"

Alois looks at the floor suspiciously when Dakini mentions the Dammerung swallowing people.

Hati doesn't seem perturbed by this thought, even though he is palpably in a shape to do harm to people.

Safix stifles a giggle at Alois' look at the Dammerung.

Xarlen nods his head toward Safix. "In a manner of speaking, yes. It's not likely, but I'll not put anything past these eels. Our wounded might have a suggestion rooted in their subconscious that they're being kept hostage, or that we were behind the attack, so forth... so many possibilities."

Dakini murmurs quietly, "Ships are docking... ah, they're starting to unload wounded..."

Safix looks at Dakini. "Can Dammerung do that pseudopod-attaching thing to anybody, or does it hear us talking? I'm curious."

Safix looks rather dismayed at Harlequin's words.

Safix tilts her head. "How do you know this stuff, Harlequin?"

Xarlen chuckles darkly. "However, trusting Illithids to search their minds? Like asking a halfling to guard a cake..."

Xarlen just offers Safix a rather chillingly knowing smile.

Hati hrrfs softly and settles to the floor again, uneasily watching Xarlen.

Safix offers Harlequin a rather untrusting look.

Safix leans against Dammerung's wall and pats it, smiling faintly. "Nice ...critter. Good critter. Keep watch, eh?"

Xarlen appears oblivious to Safix' expression. "When psionics, like magic, mixes badly with those who have less then good intentions. I've encountered a few mind-mages. You learn quickly."

Dakini smiles at Safix quietly, "Dammerung isn't sentient, Safix, so can't really 'hear' us talking. On the other hand, if I ask Dammerung to do so, it can convey the energy waves we hear as sound to me from anywhere within itself... except for people's private rooms. Those no one can listen in on, unless the occupants have asked for it to be possible."

Dakini dryly points out to Harlequin, "What makes you think Dred isn't just arresting them because just now he realized they could be traitorous to Arcana City?"

Dakini gets a slightly mischievous look... and a moment later a pseudopod slowly extends, and pats Safix' hand back.

Alois says, "I'm certain that the Governor doesn't intend to use the mindflayers for probing the minds of the EIF Officers."

Dakini nods at Alois' words.

Xarlen looks almost surprised at that. "You're suggesting they were in league with the Neogi?" He considers this a moment. "I don't know which one to shake my head at, for trusting the other as a bussiness partner, then..."

Alois takes a step back from the thing coming out of the wall towards Safix.

Alois says, "The Neogi and the Mindflayers have always worked closely together in the slaving industry."

Xarlen nods his head at that. "Makes sense, at least."

Safix goes "Yii!" and leaps about three feet away from the wall when she feels Dammerung touch back... especially after what Dakini said!

Dakini murmurs quietly, "I'm just surprised Dred didn't arrest them before the raid..." She grins at Safix, "Sorry... just teasing you a little. Dammerung won't hurt you."

The pseudopod schloop!s back into the wall.

Safix gives Dakini a look, then grins and walks back over to lean against the same spot on the wall with a certain air.

Xarlen turns toward Dakini. "Lady Stardancer, you mentioned being on Arcana only a short span of time?"

A group of four dock ground crew members come in, bearing two stretchers. These elves are in terribly bad shape. They are badly burned and only barely clinging to life.

Safix eyes Alois and mutters, "Thanks for warning me."

Hati lets the elves pass, sniffing carefully at them, and at their cargo, looking sort of worried, if a quadruped can manage that.

Dakini grins unrepentantly at Safix, going so far as to wink one blue-green eye in amusement at her... then she nods to Xarlen, even as she says to the ground crew, "Put them on the closest beds. Lady Eimi will tend to them.

Dakini smiles, "Rokhan just commo'd... he says he's just docked, and congrats on the splendid kill on the ground -- good show!"

Xarlen nods his head. "Then, how did you link with Dammerung so closely? Was Dammerung here when you got here?"

The ground crew sets the injured elves carefully down on the closest beds and leave the room..

Dakini is a bit absorbed in concentrating, and misses Xarlen's question... the beds seem to rise up slightly around the injured elves.

Slowly, the dock crews bring in more and more injured. Some of them are conscious. These are the tattooed slaves of the neogi, and they seem to be in good health. The elves, though, are unconscious.

Eimi is kept quite busy trying to keep the two most injured, badly burned elves clinging to life. The rest of the injured are checked and sorted swiftly via triage.

Xarlen, feeling a little useless helping the injured, moves to find a seat, palming his cane lightly.

Dakini doesn't assist in the nursing. Instead she sits quietly, still cross-legged and out of the way, 'listening' to those that are brought in. She wants no psionically urged attackers in the hospital.

Dakini gives Xarlen a slow, faintly amused smile, murmuring just to him, "You could help... if you wanted to..."

Safix goes over to offer Eimi what unskilled assistance she can, as an extra pair of hands.

Xarlen tips a brow, head turning toward Dakini. "I'm not sure there's much I can do, lady Stardancer."

Dakini raises an amused eyebrow, then simply makes a slow gesture... as if she were taking her glasses off. She murmurs, "Expediencies of the moment, I suppose..." and leaves it at that, turning back to concentrate on the incoming wounded.

A priest of Mystra comes in with one group of wounded and bows deeply to the group. "There are forty in all.. Twenty elves, twenty humans. Shall we bring all of them here for you?"

Xarlen smirks at the woman, as if getting her meaning. "I'm no healer," He replies, a hint of defensiveness creeping into his normally well-controlled voice.

Dakini nods quietly to the priest, "If there are injured, bring them in. We are sorting them out as follows..." She gestures, "Healthy or walking wounded there, badly injured over there, and up front the really seriously injured."

Safix looks rather harried, dealing with the injured, but manages to stay calm and useful, given good direction.

Gradually, the room fills with the injured and uninjured from space. There are twenty humans in total. They appear to be universally unharmed, though they are incredibly placid. The seventeen elves in the room have not fared as well.. hurt and unconscious.

Dakini nods slowly at a realization, "The elves are asleep due to mental er... tweaking... and that's what's keeping the humans calm too. I think I will leave it as is for now, so that we do not have to deal with hysteria until the injured are helped."

Thankfully, many of the injuries are not severe. The two brought in first are certainly the most serious. Many of the elves appear to be nothing more than battered and bruised.

Dakini says, "I will inform Kern of that also, so they know on the ship."

Safix looks intensely unhappy at the battered elves, but keeps doing as told and trying to help. She occasionally closes her eyes between tending people and shivers for a moment.

Safix finds a good place in her work to pause, and after murmuring to Eimi, goes off quietly to a less busy section of wall to turn her back on the room and wrap her arms around herself.

Dakini nudges Hati gently, nodding slightly towards Safix.

Hati looks at Dakini, and then to Safix. Understanding, he pads over to her, and settles close behind her, letting out a quiet, "Hrrf?" sort of sound.

Dakini smiles quietly at Hati... then goes back to concentrating through Dammerung.

Safix turns to slide down the wall, sitting on the floor facing Hati. Her mouth is set in an unhappy frown.

Hati sniffs carefully at the little elf, nudging her gently with his big muzzle.

Safix says very quietly to Hati, "This... hurt people... feel dizzy."

Safix mutters softly, "Remembering other times like this... hurt people everywhere, blood."

Hati moves in close to Safix, being large and furry and reassuring for her, and wishing he weren't wearing the armor, to offer her what comfort a giant, armored wolf can.

Alois comes over to where Safix is slumped against the wall and kneels down in front of her. He puts his hands on her shoulders. "Safix.. you're not there.. you're here, with us.. "

Safix puts her forehead on her knees and sits, shaking. Her voice comes even more muffled, "S'ok. Just hurts." She flinches slightly at Alois' touch, then relaxes at his voice and raises her head to give him a tremulous, utterly trusting smile.

Xarlen's head tips toward Safix, the conversation drifting to his quick ears. An expression of sympathy finds him for a moment, one of slight understanding, before he goes back to his near statue-like state.

Rokhan enters and pauses just inside, out of the way of the door, he watches the healers work for a few moments before trying to catch someone's attention.

Gala'madred steps inside, carrying an unconscious Sylune cradled in his arms.

Dakini is seated, quiet and comfortably cross-legged out of the way, with her palms resting on Dammerung's surface. Hati and Alois are by Safix, who is struggling with some emotion. Eimi's working over the injured, and Xarlen is seated out of the way.

Dakini nods quietly in greeting to Rokhan, then says to Dred, "Put her on one of those beds over there."

Safix reaches up to touch Alois' hands lightly, and says "Thank you," to him and Hati. "I think these folk might need us now?" She looks a little better.

Rokhan nods to Dakini, but holds his peace while she issues orders.

Hati hrffs quietly and continues watching Safix, although he does back off a bit, so she can stand, or Alois can help her.

Alois smiles at Safix and steps back, offering his hand to help her up.

Keesha carries Serak'tin with her.

Dermott carries Kern with him.

Gala'madred finds an empty bed, and carefully lays Sylune down. He sits down on the edge of the bed, and strokes her hair lovingly, oblivious to the suffering of others around him.

Dermott enters, helping Kern to walk in.

Dakini is seated, quiet and comfortably cross-legged out of the way, with her palms resting on Dammerung's surface. Hati and Alois are by Safix, who is struggling with some emotion. Eimi's working over the injured, and Xarlen is seated out of the way. Rokhan is also out of the way, just standing quietly.

Safix' face brightens into a real smile, and she takes Alois' hand to rise with unconscious grace.

Dakini nods a greeting as people enter, and waves Kern to a bed.

The final stretchers carry Sylune, Cynergy, and the Admiral. Keesha flits in shortly after the rest, having flown overhead guard on the trip.

Keesha drops Serak'tin off of her.

Kern looks like he might protest, but decides not to, and takes off his boots and sword-belt, laying down.

Serak'tin flutters over to Kern and hands him a bottle of garishly colored liquid.

Dakini's eyes brighten slightly as the last stretchers come in... but she just indicates beds for everyone that need them.

Kern smiles and takes the bottle. "Thank you, sirrah dragon."

The bed accommodates Kern comfortably... very comfortably... very sleep-inducingly comfortingly, in fact.

Rokhan edges over to Dakini, careful to keep himself out of the way. he leans down to speak quietly with her.

Gala'madred says, "Kern, you need a shot if Wake Up I think"

Dakini tilts her head to Rokhan inquiringly, as she watches everyone.

Kern shakes his head. "No....after expending that much spell energy, I do need to rest..."

Hati listens, watching.

Dermott stands quietly near the doorway, watching curious and with fascination.

Kern opens the bottle and takes a swallow. Ironically enough, he doesn't grimace at the taste this time, though it's far from gourmet.

Xarlen, as with many, is the silent observer out of the way.

Dakini glances up at those still standing... and then a long raised sort of bench thingie slowly protrudes from the wall for them.

Gala'madred strokes Sylune's long hair, speaking quietly to her in Drow, reassuring her.

Safix sighs, "I should go see if I can help again."

Alois walks over to where Cynergy was laid down, checking on her, then comes to Dred's side, "How is your daughter?"

The bed Sylune is on broadens slightly, so Sylune is not crowded.

Gala'madred says, "In an unnatural sleep, Alton."

Rokhan says, "As per your order, I issue the following report. SHI provisional registry yacht G.F. Bayerlein engaged enemy, identified as Bandit03 at the indicated coordinates at 1622 hours. GFB did destroy said, with no losses to it's own. enemy casualties are listed at 100 percent. Hull of bandit03 is noted as unsalvageable, and not a navigation hazard. that is all. Urrr. could I get you some coffee, or something?"

Gala'madred says, "But Kern healed her, and she was not injured badly..."

Gala'madred says, "But I worry of whatever spell they put onto her. It is not long since the last time...."

Dakini smiles at Rokhan, "Excellent work, captain. No, what I'd really like is for you to sit down and rest a bit, please."

Rokhan nods and looks for a chair...

Keesha settles onto the overhead perch that Dammerung provides for her. "Last time since what, Governor?"

Gala'madred says, "Did you send someone to find me some squids, brother?"

Alois says, "They have not yet returned. Perhaps the squids have gone underground?"

Xarlen smirks faintly at the irony.

Gala'madred says, "Likely.. You should have sent someone straight to the Bazaar. I want to know how best to.. pacify.. neogi and their strong-arms."

Rokhan notices a bench and settles his armored form into the seat, he sighs raggedly his muscles un-tensing. he rubs his eyes for a moment and looks back around the room.

Dakini coughs softly to draw people's attention, "Dammerung indicates that we may commence awakening the sleeping elves. I would suggest we do so one at a time. I am going to wake Rennyn first."

Alois says, "They'll find them eventually, Zarrazz."

Dakini glances around to be sure everyone is ready and no one will be surprised...

Dermott arches an eyebrow slightly, and settles himself onto a nearby bench, watching quietly.

Gala'madred says, "Rennyn first?"

Kern says, "Dammerung can do that?.......clever house....."

Gala'madred narrows his eyes slightly

Safix crosses to Serak'tin to see how the little dragon is doing, and peer curiously at his mage.

Dakini nods to Dred, "Yes," then smiles at Kern peacefully, "Not just a house... but the compliment is accepted."

Gala'madred says, "Oh, right, better to test the method on him first. He is a soldier, after all. Proceed."

Rokhan rests his rifle across his knees, and rubs his temples.

Keesha skrees, "All you really need is a psionic. Dammerung is bolshoye psionic."

Kern says, "Forgive me.....Dakini.....no insult....intended."

Kern yawns.

Dakini waits until Eimi and someone else (preferably someone that can restrain if necessary) is by Rennyn before she commences. She smiles at Kern, "None taken, sir knight. Shouldn't you be sleeping?" and doesn't bother responding to Dred's commentary.

Safix arches a sardonic eyebrow at Gala'maDred's words.

Kern nods and takes another swig of the green stuff before placing the bottle aside and...already drifting off...

Gala'madred says, "Kern, would you like a pick up?"

Dakini hesitates... then can't resist. She rises and quietly paces over to stand by the Admiral, looking down at him in deep fascination. Then she rests one palm against the wall, still watching the Admiral closely. With her free hand she gently rubs Serak'tin under the chin, murmuring, "Now, pretty wing... think calm and reassuring thoughts, ja?"

Rennyn's breathing hitches once, then changes from the deep slow breaths of sleep to the quicker shallower ones that indicate wakefulness.. His eyes remain closed and his eyebrows come together in pain, or worry. He mutters something under his breath in High Elven.

Gala'madred says, "He is pain"

Dakini kneels down next to the bed, resting one hand on the Admiral and murmuring quietly and reassuringly in the same language.

The other hand stays palm-flat against Dammerung.

Rennyn turns his head towards Dakini and continues on in Gold Elven, whispering to Dakini. "Where am I?"

Dakini murmurs quietly in the same musical tongue, "You are safe, Admiral... and your people are rescued. You are in Arcana City... rest..."

Gala'madred impatiently listens in on what Dakini and Rennyn are saying...

Rennyn nods and quiets, resting, but not sleeping..

Safix watches curiously, trying to keep out of the way.

Rokhan rests his head against the wall, and looks calmly about, until his oculars again gaze flatly at Gala'madred.

Dakini smiles at Serak'tin, and a perch for him slowly juts out next to Rennyn, "There you go, fierce one... keep good watch over him for us, ja?" Then she looks back at the Admiral, studying his face in fascination again.

Serak'tin settles onto the perch and tucks his nose under his wing, curling up his tail and rests.

Dakini watches the Admiral relax slightly to rest, his eyes still closed... then hesitantly, very lightly touches just her fingertips to his hair, brushing it back slightly.

Dakini sighs softly and rises gracefully to her feet, pausing only long enough to gently rub the tired pseudodragon's head... then she moves silently back to her previous position and settles comfortably once again. Both palms go back, flat on Dammerung's floor... and then her gaze shifts to Sylune.

Rokhan looks over his notes, some of which were taken before the battle, he then looks at the governor, "Lord Gala'maDred, you are arranging to have the Neoghi prisoners to be dispatched soon, I trust?

Dakini notes that the elf woman's father is by her, and she's already healed... Dakini nods to herself, and concentrates again.

Safix edges carefully around to Serak'tin since the bipeds don't need her, fretful. She reaches to rub the little guy's head gently, wanting to comfort something.

Dakini makes a small noise at Rokhan, then murmurs, "Moment, captain... let him be there for his daughter."

Gala'madred looks up. "Dispatched? Not as yet, no... I had a more.. fitting justice in mind, should the Council see fit to rule along with it."

Sylune gasps and sits up with a scream as she comes awake.. He eyes latch onto her father first and she falls into his arms, sobbing.

Rokhan nods, "Ah.. my apologies.. it can wait short amount.

Dakini gives Rokhan a faintly amused glance.

Serak'tin leans into the headrubs that Safix is giving him. He actually sounds like he might be purring.

Keesha chirrips. "Just a little while, yes."

Gala'madred pulls Sylune close, running his fingers through her hair. He whispers softly in her ear.

Kern awakens briefly from the deep sleep by the scream...but as he sees Sylune and Gala'maDred embracing, he relaxes and lays back down and is asleep again inside of five seconds.

Gala'madred says, "Shhh, you are safe now my doll... We rescued you. Cynergy and Rennyn are here too, and safe...."

Dakini smiles at Kern's groggy response, and grins at Keesha's comment.

Safix smiles, looking like petting Serak'tin does more to comfort her than it does for the happy little dragon.

Gala'madred says, "Where is your spelljammer? Twas not the Starflight you returned in..."

Sylune looks up and sniffles, wiping the back of her hand across her eyes. "The Starflight was destroyed.."

Dakini sighs softly, rising to her feet and stretching her arms slowly up above her head... then she starts calmly and methodically taking off her armor.

Gala'madred brushes Sy's hair back from her face. "I am sorry, love... I have no spelljammer myself. I suppose you'll have to stay on the ground with me, for now." Dred smiles.

Dermott doesn't react more than jump slightly with the screen, but as the daughter of Vrinn begins to relate what happened, he leans forward slightly, listening.

Hati stands up, and finally pads back over to his mistress.

Dakini smiles tiredly at the huge wolf, "Heya, pretty wolf... need a hand with that armor?" She gives his ears an affectionate ruffle, then starts undoing his buckles.

Rokhan quirks his muzzle tightly and he looks through the helmet around the room. He looks back at the Governor, his expression not improving..

Gala'madred meets Rokhan's eyes, and slowly raises one sculpted eyebrow.

Hati hrffs quietly, and stands still so his mistress can remove the heavy leathers.

Alois quirks an eyebrow at Rokhan. "Didn't your mother warn you that your face would stick if you left it in a scowl too long, Rokhan? Looks like it's too late..."

Gala'madred clears his throat

Rokhan says, "Upon some further reflection, I do not think the question /can/ wait for some sort of symbolic justice."

Gala'madred says, "Indeed?"

Gala'madred says, "Do go on, Ser Rokhan..."

Rokhan glances down to a sheaf of papers, "According to the notes supplied to me, by Lady Dakini here, if the Neogi choose to "envenom" one of their comrades.. your prison facilities could soon be overrun with baby vermin, unless you act quickly and dispose of them promptly

Gala'madred says, "Aye, precisely why I do not wish them thrown into the dungeons... They might eat the other prisoners, too..."

Keesha skrees, "Solitary confinement."

Alois says, "It takes weeks.. and the Great Old One will be highly noticeable.. It could be dealt with before it became a problem."

Dakini glances up from where she's pulling the last bit of heavy leather armor off Hati, and nods quietly. "They can create a Great Old Master, but it would probably eat all of them in the process, having no other food. On the other hand... yes, I think Keesha is correct. Solitary confinement would probably be wisest." She gently ruffles Hati's fur back.

Rokhan says, "Yes, captain Keesha, however that is expensive, and takes up real estate, which is not well supplied on this asteroid. I would suggest shooting them and burning them forthwith."

Alois says, "And how would they feed it without feeding each other to it? It would leave them at a distinct disadvantage."

Gala'madred says, "Confinement is too easy, and too good, for the likes of such despicable wretches."

Hati shakeshakes a little, fluffing his fur back out.

Dakini glances at Alois, "I suppose it depends on whether they are more individualistic, or species-oriented."

Safix blinks and pauses in her stroking of Serak'tin, listening with some horror.

Gala'madred says, "A death sentence is not heavy enough to pay for the sufferings they have caused, I think."

Xarlen, with a faint chuckle, "We could stuff them into an iron walled room with the Illithids and see who comes out."

Alois shrugs at Dakini. "They want gains. There is not gain to be had from creating a Great Old One in jail."

Gala'madred says, "These are hardened and seasoned criminals, I remind you."

Dakini wrinkles her nose slightly, "Personally, I'd rather see them swiftly executed."

Rokhan says, "Actually, they are large vermin, and I suggest you deal with them that way..."

Gala'madred says, "Thy suggestion is noted, Speaker of Stormhaven. Thank thee"

Keesha skrees, "They are not criminals. They are predators. I suspect that Rokhan has the best suggestion for dealing with them."

Dakini nods to Rokhan, then goes back to methodically removing her armor.

Gala'madred smiles slightly.

Rokhan nods to Dakini, "precisely, keep it neat and tidy."

Dermott says quietly, "No matter what is decided... is should be done soon."

Gala'madred says, "As soon as possible, Captain Dermott. "

Gala'madred glances at Alois, raising one eyebrow a tad

Rokhan says, "Yes, Also since it was a 'Naval' matter I see no reason to involve the ruling council, when they suffered the least in this recent engagement."

Alois shrugs at Dred, "Maybe they got eaten?"

Dakini looks pleased, "Excellent. Will they be quickly slain tonight?"

Gala'madred says, "If so, then send another man, and this time tell him to be polite and say that the Governor wishes to ask a favor."

Gala'madred says, "No, they will not be slain tonight."

Safix says with quiet surprise, "They might not all be evil and deserving of death. Can't we be better than they are?"

Alois nods at Gala'madred, "As you like."

Dakini murmurs, "Pity," then points out dryly to Safix, "This is a Sphere of binary good and evil, Safix. They are evil."

Gala'madred says, "Seeing as how there are no fit on duty Elven Naval Officers on hand, nor at the site of the incident, I will leave it to the council of Arcana to decide on the matter, I think. Mayhap I shall convene the Royal Court..."

Dakini yawns herself, armor all removed, "Well... I think that's enough excitement for the injured. Shall we leave them to heal?"

Rokhan looks at Safix (again flatly), "My dear child, however noble those sentiments may be, the hard reality of this, is that they are dangerous predators, and a threat. A quick death is the proper solution to this.

Rokhan nods to Dakini and gets to his feet slowly...

Gala'madred says, "A quick death will leave Justice undone, Speaker"

Safix blinks at Dakini, looking unconvinced, and resumes petting Serak'tin. She gives Rokhan the barest glance when he speaks.

Gala'madred says, "That is more mercy than the neogi slavers ever show their victims..."

Sylune sniffles, "I'm fit, father.. and I want them killed!"

Keesha skrees, "I think we need efficiency more than an illusory justice."

Gala'madred says, "My dear, you are injured yet.... And death is too good for someone who would try to enslave a Vrinn. One eye for Two, I say."

Dakini nods at Keesha's comments, "'fraid so. Not gonna happen though, it looks like."

Rokhan says, "Precisely Keesha, no need for symbolic or emotional displays."

Xarlen turns his head toward Alois and Dred. "You know, if this were on Toril, would the surface elves be giving drow a quick execution, considering them 'Vermin'?

Dermott takes Kern with him.

Sylune gets a petulant look on her face, complete with a small pout. "Father! I'm fit enough to make decisions!"

Gala'madred says, "Who said anything about illusionary justice? You Outsiders are too used to your own corrupt societies, I think, were administering justice is indeed a farce and a jest. We elves take Justice more seriously, I assure thee."

Dakini picks up her and Hati's armor and heads for the door. She pauses long enough to say, "Whatever you decide, you should decide it soon and quietly... and let the injured heal in peace." She gives Sylune a frankly disbelieving look... then paces quietly out.

Rokhan arches an eyebrow , and follows Dakini out..

Dakini snorts amusedly at Dred's words as she leaves... but doesn't bother wasting her breath.

Gala'madred nods to Xarlen. "Yes, more than likely, that is what would happen."

Hati follows his mistress, quietly. What the lunatics decide isn't his problem; serving and protecting his mistress is.

Dakini calls quietly over her shoulder, "Clear the room, gentles!"

Rokhan heads through the smooth, round doorway to Dawnstar's living room.

Dakini heads through the smooth, round doorway to Dawnstar's living room.

Safix says stiffly, "If you have to kill them without even trying to find out if they deserve it, at least have the guts to do it like a civilized creature and make it clean and quick."

Keesha heads through the smooth, round doorway to Dawnstar's living room.

Gala'madred says, "I prefer not to kill the prisoners at all. We killed most of the Neogi today."

Gala'madred says, "Those that surrendered are another matter. I prefer to see them enslaved."

Xarlen tips his head. "At least," He says, as he rises from his chair, weaving through the beds, "Find out if there are any more considering using Arcana as a slave depo."

Safix looks at Gala'madred and frowns.

Gala'madred says, "Yes, a good point Xarlen.. Dead Neogi are more difficult to question than live ones..."

Gala'madred says, "The Overmaster did not tell me much before I took his head off."

Sylune lays back down and closes her eyes, slipping off into a light sleep.

Xarlen grins. "Kill first and ask questions to the spirits doesn't work with Neogi, eh?"

Gala'madred says, "Well, I don't speak Neogi, you see"

slave falls asleep.

Alois taps Dred on the shoulder, "Let's go to the path, brother, and leave the wounded in peace."

Gala'madred says, "So I have trouble understanding the answers of their ghosts"

Xarlen nods, making his way out, before pausing to turn. "Governor?"

Gala'madred says, "I think they respond better to physical questioning too..."

Gala'madred says, "Aye?"

Gala'madred walks over to the door

Xarlen heads through the smooth, round doorway to Dawnstar's living room.

Safix sighs.



(OOC) Sat Mar 31 1901 06:16 PM by "Dakini" at "Inner Dawnstar" (OOC)

    Inner Dawnstar
    You stand in an airy, spacious room, which nevertheless manages to feel almost cozy. This might be due to the multiple, slightly irregular rows of waist-high protrusions from the floor -- obviously restful beds for the injured. The room is comfortably warm and smells pleasantly neutral -- a kindness for those who find strong scents painful. Niches in the wall by each bed hold neatly rolled bandages, a glass of water, and other useful and applicable tools of the nursing trade. Glow bulbs light the room well, gleaming in regular rows along the ribs of the room, which arch gracefully up to meet high above, somehow muting distant sound to nothing more than a soft murmur. While it's not immediately obvious, the room is tidily warded against technical, magical, or psionic intrusion, along with several other types of less-common protections.

    You see before you a human male in his mid-twenties. He appears to be moderately attractive, with his jet-black hair worn long in the back and cropped close, his piercing green eyes, and chiseled facial features. His lips seem to naturally turn up into a smile as he returns your gaze unblinkingly. His body well toned under his garments, though favoring a wiry build over larger muscles. He is currently wearing a fine suit of elven chainmail, reaching down to his ankles on the bottom, and his elbows on the top. Over that, he wears a golden long-tunic emblazoned with a multi-colored vortex. He has a black leather belt cinching the tunic, adorned with several belt pouches, a long sword in its scabbard, and what looks to be a speed-holster for an ebony wand. He stands comfortably in red leather high boots, and golden bracers protecting his wrists. Last to catch your eye is the new ring which sits on his left middle finger: a silver band set with a rogue stone, denoted by its chaotic swirling colors. It seems to glisten in the light as your eyes move back to his face, and he nods, murmuring a quiet 'well met' to you.

    Dakini grins lazily at you from behind the reflective blue-green shades which hide her eyes. Her hair is long and tousled, a bright, red-gold mane that occasionally hides her small pointed ears. She's a tall, slender, strong woman, with small but callused hands, and well-muscled forearms. She wears a soft, comfortably loose, ivory silk shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Over that is a sturdy, quilted, sleeveless tunic of dark indigo blue embroidered with intertwined silvery stars and ivory-gold unicorns. It is belted off snugly with a wide, well-worn leather belt. On her right hip, tied down about the right thigh, rides a holstered flechette pistol. On her left hangs a decorated and runically embossed scabbard with the plain, worn-leather-and-wire wrapped pommel of a short sword protruding from it. Sturdy, worn dueling gloves are tucked into the back of the belt, mostly hiding a cross-holstered dagger. Slung over one shoulder is her battered, padded leather airwoman's jacket, heavily decorated on the back with a rabidly snarling, eight-limbed, winged beast, and numerous other colorful decorations on shoulders, arms, and front. Her long legs are fitted with snug breeches, and her knee-high, well-used black leather boots and jacket smell pleasingly of years of quality leather care.

Kern wakes to the sound of someone singing, very softly. When he opens his eyes he can see Dakini, sitting cross-legged on a bed nearby, with Serak'tin curled in her lap getting gently and slowly stroked. Both Dakini and Serak'tin look relaxed and peaceful, with the little pseudo-dragon blinking sleepily.

Dakini pauses in her softly lilting song, her head tilting as if she's listening to someone speak to her. Then her head turns, and she smiles at Kern. Her voice is low, so as to not wake anyone else, "Greetings, sir knight. I trust you are feeling better now?"

Kern winces as he gets up. "Uhm...somewhat. Hold off a minute." He grabs the bottle he left by his beside and takes two quick swallows and quietly grumbles. "Ow. Should have had more liquids before I fell asleep..."

Kern rubs his temple.

Dakini rises gracefully and paces quietly to where the Admiral sleeps. She gently deposits the little pseudo-dragon there, patting him affectionately, and glances at the Admiral thoughtfully... then turns and weaves smoothly between the beds back to Kern. She smiles, offering her arm, "Come... let's retire to my living room, shall we? You can get something more to eat and drink if you wish there."

Dakini offers to take Kern by the hand with her.

Kern grunts as he gets to his feet. "Uhm..sure, thanks. Just one thing..." He murmurs something under his breath and his armor abruptly disappears. Kern is now dressed in a set of multicolored robes set with small reflective surfaces that seem to cast small rainbows. "There." he says with satisfaction, taking Dakini's arm."

Kern takes Dakini by the hand.

    Dawnstar Living Room
    This comfortable, elliptical room is softly lit behind geometric sweeps of frosted glass supported by flowing trapezoids picked out in elegant ebony trim. The scarlet and gold flames in the recessed fireplace highlight its slate gray and lustrous jet frame, which echoes the graceful, stylized Deco trim. Dancing firelight gleams on the elegant ebony trim of recurring trapezoids that adorns the graceful dove gray pillars which rib the room. There are several comfortable, small [couches], both recessed into the walls and free-standing in the room. A small matching table recessed into the wall proudly bears a refined, willowy Erté bronze. One entire wall is a huge, glass window, framed in cream draperies, where the lustrous pearl moon silvers all below you in argent and mysterious shadow.

Dakini settles Kern on a comfortable sofa -- one on which he can half-recline if he wishes -- and heads for the small kitchenette type area. Over her shoulder she calls, "Would you like anything to eat or drink, Kern?"

Kern clears his throat as he makes himself comfortable. "Uhm..sure, nothing fancy...orange juice, grapefruit juice...maybe some fresh fruit if you have any."

Dakini is herself also dressed casually, in snugly fitting breeches and an oversized cream silk shirt. In fact, she seems to even have set aside her usual ubiquitous reflective shades, which causes her to sometimes have to brush back her heavy tumble of red-gold mane. She nods, pouring some juice from what looks like a refrigerator, then neatly and swiftly slicing up some fruit for him while tea starts brewing for herself.

Dakini sets the silvery knife aside, bringing over the mug of juice and the plate of fruit for Kern. She goes back to finish her tea... then settles comfortably on a couch facing his, her bare feet swinging freely back and forth under the couch. She grins cheerfully, "So! Better?"

The hot, sweet scent of orange and spice tea drifts pleasantly through the room.

Kern looks around with admiring curiosity as he grows to a more alert awakeness. "Thank you for your hospitality, Dakini. Dammerung is...most impressive." He nods thankfully at the plate of fruit and takes an apple slice, chewing thoughtfully. "Better, yes. The cushioned bed made it so that I had no idea I was sleeping in my armor."

Dakini chuckles, "Sorry about that. I considered trying to take it off you... but decided it wisest to not potentially startle someone so fresh from a battle." Her smile gets slightly rueful, "I know how that goes."

Dakini adds, with the faintest touch of amused disapproval, "You left your sword bloody, sir..."

Kern nods thankfully, even smiling. "To be honest, although I tend to be a light sleeper, you could probably not have woken me anyway. The armor is hard to remove for someone who is not familiar with it. It is magically sealed."

Kern blinks in the act of bringing a glass of juice to his lips. "You could tell that?"

Dakini nods calmly, first inhaling and then contentedly sipping at her tea. "Mmhmm. It was on the Chirikh's deck."

Kern sips the juice, not meeting Dakini's gaze. "The blade is in no danger of contamination. It is an ensorcelled blade. But I felt it...needful, to keep a reminder of the battle for a while."

Dakini wrinkles her nose in amused disgust, "Eeew... you keep the blood of your enemies?!"

Kern says, "No. No! of course not. But I did not...acquit myself well in the battle. As I am...sure you are aware. I left the blade uncleaned...because I myself felt unclean."

Dakini says, "Ah." She pauses, thinking for a moment... then shakes her head, "Well... in similar situations I've found that the ritual of caring for one's tools -- regardless of whether they are live or not -- is a vital part of... of returning to..." She pauses, struggling for words, "...of shedding the warrior passion. It's... intoxicating, I know -- things are so simple in that mind-set! -but it is a dangerous and debilitating drug in the long term."

Dakini's blue-green eyes get very distant for a moment... then she shivers slightly, shaking her head once sharply, and sips her hot tea again.

Kern says, "That's just it. I am a warrior when needful, but I never take pleasure in ending a life. Save for those times...when that part of me... that shadow-part that bubbles up with my anger to hurt and rend.. robs my of my compassion...my humanity."

Kern's hands shake briefly and he sets down the glass.

Kern says, "only a handful of times have I ever felt thusly."

Dakini watches Kern quietly, her eyes bright with sympathy, but doesn't interrupt his attempt to collect himself again.

Kern says, "You...were of help in me recovering myself, Dakini. But I was not able to quell that dark beast that I became...until I saw that same dark passion in the Governor's eyes...a dark passion I keep hoping I have conquered...because so many lives were lost that first time because of it.""

Kern whispers, "Gods help me."

Kern hangs his head, wringing his hands.

Dakini says with gentle emphasis, "Your wolven side is not a dark beast, Kern. If there is a beast in you, it is one that only you yourself can master... and you can, if you recognize it." She rises, stepping quietly over to sit next to Kern, taking his hands in her own if he allows it, "Kern... stop beating yourself up. Let us think logically and calmly about this... would you train a dog by beating it? How much less so should you so abuse yourself then, ja?"

Kern allows Dakini to take his hands, but does not meet her gaze. "No...no you are right...and logically, I understand that wolves are not savage beasts. But on Toril...men who are wolven lycanthropes all have that taint of evil in them. I know not why Lythari are not the same, but...it is not evidence, true. But it does give me pause."

Dakini smiles, "All right then... there's proof for you that it is not the wolf that brings the evil to men's souls."

Dakini says, "After all... I've never met an evil wolf."

Kern says, "You are saying then that the evil comes from within the man...which does not make me feel any better, Dakini."

Dakini chuckles quietly, "Do you consider children evil? And yet they can harm greatly with their careless words. It is the act of growing up that teaches them their actions will have consequence. It is empathy that teaches them that careless words hurt. Evil men are those that learn this... and refuse to care about anyone but themselves. Obviously you care... so your darkness is controllable -- because you wish it to be."

Dakini smiles, rising, "Come. Let us start the ritual for you to become clean again, shall we?"

Dakini holds out one strong, slender hand to Kern.

Kern looks up at Dakini, wondering what she can be about...but hesitates only a moment before taking Dakini's hand in his own bronzed hand.

Dakini grins cheerfully, drawing Kern after her as she heads towards the door, "I don't know what it's like in Toril... but on Midgaard we take care of our tools first!"

Dakini slips her jacket, boots, and sword belt swiftly on, then draws Kern's hand through her arm and strolls quietly downstairs with him, "So... I'm thinking first we go to Chirikh, pick up your sword, make sure it's cleaned, ja? After that we can make sure your armor's cleaned... then you. Sound reasonable?"

Kern smiles and gestures broadly with a hand. "Lead on, dear lady."

Dakini chuckles quietly and does so. As she walks she chats idly with Kern, her voice quiet, relaxing, and peaceful, "So... tell me about your wolf form. You must look quite striking, ja? What color is your fur? Do your eyes change color also?"

Kern blushes. "Well...I was told on Furry Prime that I looked striking...of course, this was before I could shift between human and wolf. My uhm fur is gray.. mother told me I was part timber wolf... and no, same eyes. Those do not change."

Kern says, "Well...gray with white highlights."

Dakini smiles, "Sounds very attractive, actually... a rainbow-eyed timber wolf. Are you bipedal, or can you run quadrupedally as well?"

Kern chuckles. "Bipedal. I have never tried to become full wolf like Hati...and actually my eyes are green. They only become rainbow hued when casting spells."

Kern looks thoughtful. "I wonder if I could..."

Dakini nods relaxedly, "Well, it still sounds nice. Ja, perhaps you should try quadrupedal. I could ask Hati to be there with you at the same time, if you wished... it would be, I would think, an excellent bit of discipline for you to teach yourself -- to change shape when you wished, as you wished." She smiles lazily at Kern, "Do you agree?"

Kern looks slightly doubtful. "I suppose. As it is, I can become wolf as I choose...but after over 20 years of being a bipedal wolf, I have spent the last few years reveling in my humanity. Still...it might shock Alois if nothing else..."

Kern's eyes twinkle. "Hmm. What an experience it might be to scratch my head with my hind leg."

Dakini grins mischievously, "And we all know how important it is to occasionally startle Alois..." She giggles softly, then grins at Kern, "It's up to you, of course... but if you wish Hati and I would be happy to help you teach yourself to control yourself in true-wolf form."

Kern nods thoughtfully. "I think I might. Though to be honest, I am most concerned with...you know...the other thing."

Dakini glances inquiringly at Kern, "'other thing'?"

Kern says, "Well, if we've established that my darker half is separate from my wolven identity..." He sighs, looking away. "I know that I must come to peace with it. If I had more success with Alois, I might feel more confident with myself, however.""

Kern says, "Something tells me I set my sights too high, however."

Dakini points out calmly, "This should indeed establish that it is not the wolf that is causing you such anguish, true... and self-discipline is always a worthy goal. That way lies self-knowledge as well... and once you know yourself, you can control yourself, ja?" She smiles, "First self-knowledge... then aiding your friend, I think. Otherwise I'd have to agree that your sights might be set too high."

Kern chuckles wryly. "Touché, my dear." He then looks at you sideways. "I take it you forgive me for my bad behavior the other week."

Dakini's smile at Kern is peaceful, "What bad behavior."

Kern says, "The one, uhmm....you know the fight we had about Hati."

Dakini chuckles quietly, then waves a hand, "Forgotten, my dear. Here we are... the Chirikh. Let us see if we can retrieve your sword, mmm?"

Kern's eyes twinkle and he gestures. A gore -encrusted sword suddenly comes flying out the hatch and into his hand. "Done."

Kern seems rather relieved that Dakini does not elaborate on the matter of Hati.

Dakini looks pleased, "Excellent... and we don't even have to disturb poor Keesha, who's doubtless faced with the thrilling prospect of cleaning out her holds." She grins, turning to look around... then, once she's spotted a relatively clean and safe place to sit, she gestures, "Over there, I think." As she walks over with Kern she holds up a gently amused warning finger, "No magic while cleaning your sword, now."

Dakini says, "So... do you have the requisite tools?"

Kern hrms. "Tools? Usually I just wipe it with a damp cloth...then again, I've never left blood on it before..."

Kern eyes the sword critically.

Dakini watches Kern expectantly for a second... then blinks slowly as it hits her that Kern may not ever have cleaned a sword without magic before! She thinks a moment... then smiles, pleased at figuring out a polite way to handle this situation. "You know... I should clean my sword too, I think. We can share tools, if you like?"

Kern nods. "That would be most acceptable."

Kern grimaces as he looks at the dried gore that 'decorates' the mithril blade. "Gah. What was I thinking."

Dakini calmly pulls out a small cloth-bound bundle, which she unwraps in her lap where she sits cross-legged. The outer cloth makes a nice cover for her lap, and then the short falchion is laid carefully across her thighs. She waits until Kern is ready, then hands him a somewhat discolored but clean rag, "There, wipe it off with this... it'll get tossed or cleaned later."

Dakini grins, "The rag will, I mean." She lays out two rags across her short falchion as Kern cleans his sword. The sweet scent of clove oil drifts across to Kern.

Dakini adds, "Make sure you get all the blood off, even within any nicks the blade may have taken."

Kern nods, being careful not to cut himself as he wipes off the encrusted blood. "should be fine.. I only used it once, and mithril is hard to nick.. but, still, as the lady decrees."

Kern admires the silver blade as he slowly cleans it. He seems fond of the sword.

Dakini chuckles quietly, "Actually it's my swordmaster who decrees so. She'd spank any student that left their weapon uncared for! Terribly embarrassing... no one ever failed so more than once..."

Dakini smiles, waiting while Kern slowly slides into the quietly thoughtful, almost reverent mood that care of beautiful and well-made tools can cause...

Kern says, "I vaguely remember something similar back when my swordmaster was teaching me that art of the blade...but when I turned my studies to magic, some of the refinements of his teachings were lost to me...I suppose I became lazy, requiring on magic so."

Kern eyes the hilt critically, wiping it as well for good measure.

Dakini nods quietly, "It can happen. There is a comradeship of the sword that can be lost, unfortunately, should that occur." She waits until Kern is done wiping off the blood, then shows him the tools she's gotten out while he was doing so. It looks like a tiny tom-tom with a cloth-wrapped head, no longer than maybe 4" or 6". "Watch... this is chalk. You want to tap it no more than... hmm... 3 times on your sword. Just one side at a time." She suits her actions to her words, tapping her shorter blade only twice with the little tool. A small puff of chalk lands on the gleaming sword at each tap. She hands the tool to Kern, "Remember... a light hand and a light tap."

Kern watches carefully, then gingerly repeats the gesture.

Kern says, "Why chalk?"

Dakini nods approvingly, accepting the small tool back and tucking it away. Then she pulls out small white squares of something, handing one to Kern and keeping one for herself, "These are rice paper. Use them to wipe the chalk along your blade. Chalk is a mild abrasive, and will clean up the microscopic bits that a rag will miss."

Dakini smiles at Kern, folding the rice paper around the blade once and using long, slow strokes to wipe the chalk along the length of the entire blade.

Dakini says, "See? Like so."

Kern ahhhhhs and accepts the paper, starting to rub the chalk into the blade in imitation. "You're right...there is a tranquility about this...like my morning meditations to fill my body with magic from the Weave..."

Dakini nods quietly, "Precisely. You see how I mean now."

Dakini will, with Kern, do both sides of their swords. The slow, thoughtful procedure has a meditative effect, given time... and eventually both swords show a dull, clean shine. Dakini crumples up both pieces of rice paper to throw away later, then picks up a rag and hands Kern another. He can feel immediately the slightly oily texture of the rag on his fingers, and the scent of clove oil is also somewhat stronger. Dakini smiles, "This is the last part... to wipe down the blade with oil. Remember... slow strokes, from hilt to tip." She suits her actions to her words, her face still and peaceful as she concentrates on her sword.

Kern watches for a moment, and then does the same, smiling as the scent tickles at his nostrils...just then, he suddenly breaks into a laugh.

Dakini looks up with an inquiring smile, "Mmm?"

Kern chuckles as he pays close attention to the sword. "Just thinking...it would have been awful hard to do this with my old sword."

Dakini says, "Really? How so?"

Kern tilts his head to wink at Dakini. "It was enchanted to burst into flame whenever draw from its scabbard."

Dakini laughs softly, "Well... I suppose it didn't tend to collect debris much, eh?"

Kern smirks. "No, the fire did keep it clean...." His smile fades then. "It was destroyed in the explosion at White Ford."

Dakini tilts her head inquiringly, "White Ford?"

Dakini hms, looking around, then says gently to Kern, "Perhaps we should repair back to Dammerung. We could have a bite to eat... and then maybe we could talk about White Ford... if you wish?"

Kern nods slowly. He does not look depressed, but there is a quiet solemnity about him as he finishes wiping the blade.

Dakini smiles when Kern is finished and offers her the rag back -- she gently pushes his hand back towards himself with her fingertips, "No... you keep it. That way you can pause and meditate again sometime, if you should so wish." She rises and sheathes her blade in one smooth motion, then offers her hand to Kern again. "I hope you're feeling a bit better now?"

Kern nods, tossing the rag and then the blade into the air.. both disappear without so much as a puff of smoke. "Much, lady." he replies as he clasps her hand.

Dakini's smile turns into a more cheerful grin, "Well then... definitely food!" She tucks her hand into Kern's arm and they head briskly back to Dammerung... pausing only for Dakini to take a moment to breath deeply in Dammerung's garden, to listen for a bit to the tinkling ripple of the tiny pool... she smiles at Kern, "I like it here. Despite the spider ship around the corner, Dammerung's gardens for me always makes me feel very relaxed and peaceful."

Kern blinks and looks around. "The ship crashed in the garden??"

Dakini says, "No, landed. I opened a chute upstairs in Dammerung, and Alois and Safix tossed two mines down it, while Harlequin shot the spidership with a lightning bolt, I believe... it must've been far more lightly armored than the ships you fought, because it exploded."

Kern says, "And the wreckage has not been cleaned up yet?"

Dakini says, "Dammerung has pulled back from it..." She grins at Kern, "-and we thought it a tad bit more important to care first for the wounded?"

Kern says, "Well true, but Mindspider wreckage does so clash with daffodils."

Dakini laughs softly, "Too true. Well, Dammerung ate as much as it could, but the rest of it will doubtless be scavenged by others in Arcana City. Would you like some yourself?"

Kern shakes his head. "I have no need of it. Mmmmm. You mentioned food earlier?"

A telltale rumble emits from Kern's stomach.

Dakini grins, "Indeed! Upstairs then, definitely. Do you have a preference as to cuisine?"

Kern says, "Nothing spicy. Other than that, must have meat."

Dakini trots lightly upstairs with Kern in tow... she doesn't seem to mind holding his hand as long as he seems comfortable as well. Over her shoulder she calls, "Well then... can I tempt you with a nice medium rare little filet mignon? With, perhaps, a potato... a cholesterol bomb of a potato -- and some steamed veggies?" She grins over her shoulder, a flash of teeth and laughing eyes through scarlet hair -- then turns to lead through the door into her apartment, "Home again... make yourself comfortable!"

Kern smiles as he reluctantly (reluctantly?) lets go of Dakini's hand...he absently brings that hand to his face and discovers his cheek is warm with his blood. This discovery only serves to make him blush harder. Frustrated at this unspeakable inability to control his own body he makes a point of turning his back on Dakini as he decides on a place to sit.

Dakini is politely not observing Kern as she shrugs out of her jacket and weapons-belt. She removes her boots quickly with the boot jack by the door, her long wave of hair obscuring her face for a moment... so that Kern doesn't have to face her for a moment longer. Then she walks easily into the next room, "Back in a moment!"

Kern mumbles an affirmative as he relaxes on the couch he sat on before, but sitting up and at attention. The red slowly fades from his cheeks.. as he reasserts control.

A second later she returns, a large tray in hand which she sets down on a low table surrounded by large, firm, comfy cushions, that's settled between the two couches. Hm... was there a table there before? Hard to tell... regardless, it's currently present, and on the tray it supports are two meals exactly as Dakini described. The butter melts deliciously into the baked potatoes, the silverware gleams dully in the gentle light, the small steaks smell wonderful, and Dakini settles happily cross-legged on a cushion, tucking a linen napkin into her lap and waving cheerfully for Kern to join her, "Don't wait -- you'll hurt Dammerung's feelings!"

Kern blinks at the sudden appearance of food. "My...Dakini, what exactly is Dammerung? I've never seen food produced so quickly that was not made by magic." He doesn't wait, however, slicing and taking a bite of steak.

Dakini grins, "Well, I alerted Dammerung as soon as we decided on dinner, back on the docks... it's been preparing the food for a while, after all." She eats hungrily but neatly... obviously she hasn't eaten in a while either.

Dakini pats her mouth lightly with the napkin, then says gently, "So... do you want to talk about White Ford, Kern?"

Kern laughs. "Clever." He stabs a bite of potato....well, he tries to at any rate, seeing as he's looking at Dakini and not his food. He winces as the fork scratches the plate. "Uhm...yes...White Ford." he says, covering his mistake.

Dakini grins quietly, and politely happens to be studying her wine goblet at that moment, swirling the amber-colored liquid around gently, then admiring its legs.

Kern notices Dakini's diverted attention...and absently wonders if she's still inside his head. He goes on, however, telling the story of how he and his friends were ambushed by the vampires...about what happened as a result, and how those events led to him leaving his birth home. He seems to tell the tale with surprising calmness, but it's clear in his eyes that he still feels the pain, even 6 years in his past...

Dakini loses the smile as Kern talks. Even her eating slows, and her bright sea-colored eyes glow with sympathy by the time he's done, although she doesn't interrupt his tale.

Kern sighs as his tale ends. "So...now you know the whole thing, unvarnished."

Dakini will, when Kern's done, rise smoothly and move to sit next to Kern. If he doesn't seem startled or dismayed by that, she'll gently give him a quiet, close, comfortingly warm hug, murmuring only, "I'm so sorry, Kern..."

Kern seems, perhaps, a touch surprised, but not at all ungrateful for the physical expression of sympathy. "Thank you, Dakini." His own arms drape around her, but they seems a bit stiff.. as though he were trying to refrain from doing something he would be naturally inclined to do.

Dakini hugs for a moment... then sits back, looking a little puzzled, "Er... is something wrong? Are hugs the wrong form of expression of sympathy for your culture?"

Kern smiles wanly. "No...no, not at all Dakini. But, ah...seeing as I have already made mistakes in assuming things of your own culture, I did not wish to do anything that might be construed as too.....familiar."

Dakini says, "Oh!" Dakini laughs softly, then grins reassuringly, "It's all right, Kern... if I didn't want you to touch I'd let you know. Also, I'm guessing that expressions of sympathy are recognized as such... and you won't do anything you consider rude." She tilts her head slightly, causing a scarlet-gold curl to slide lazily across one golden cheek. Her bright eyes are dancing with mischief, "So... feeling better then, I take it?""

Kern considers. "Yes, actually...I've never told anyone...not even Alois... the whole story. Getting it off my chest feels comforting in a way." He then makes the mistake of looking into Dakini's eyes, and finds himself caught, in a brief, scintillating moment, by the appealing nature of Dakini's warm expression and the way the light catches her hair. He looks like a deer in the headlights as his mouth fumbles for words. "Thank...you....thank you for listening."

Dakini gives Kern a slightly puzzled look again as he looks momentarily stunned... then, abruptly, looks suddenly terribly chagrined, turning her head sharply and breaking eye contact. Softly she says, "You're welcome, Kern." A moment later she adds quietly, "You should finish your meal, ja? and so should I..."

Dakini rises smoothly to return to her seat, where she folds up neatly onto her cushion again with a faint sigh, "And... I suppose I owe you an apology... for staring at you. I fear, from your expression, that I unwittingly 'pulled' at you."

Kern blinks, confused by what just happened..."Food, right, food. Don't want to disappoint Dammerung." he says hastily. He focuses back on his plate. At her words, however, he looks up again. "I beg your pardon?"

Dakini's normal golden skin tone darkens across her cheeks. She looks down at her plate, her scarlet bangs sliding to obscure her face, "Umm... well, it's something in the family, from what I've been told... it manifests in different ways. One of my mothers could use scent to influence people, others have other means of doing so... mine is that I'm very convincing when I have eye contact. It's why I wear shades... so I don't do it accidentally." She looks acutely uncomfortable, apparently not realizing at all that it might simply have been that Kern found her attractive and pleasant to be around, "I... I'm dreadfully sorry, Kern... I must've done it again..." Hastily she grabs her jacket, adding, "I'll just get my shades..."

Kern's hand snakes out with surprising speed and clasps Dakini's wrist in the process of picking up her jacket, his touch firm but gentle. "Hold off a minute, Dakini. I don't know about this knack of yours you speak of, but I assure you that's not the reason I stared. If there was any compulsion at work, it resided wholly within me."

Dakini looks up in startlement at being grabbed, but pauses a moment, staring at Kern... then blinks, looking down at her wrist. Her voice is dry, "Let go at once, please..."

Kern blinks, momentarily startled, wondering where those words just came from. A second ago, a goblin could outthink him.

Kern hastily lets go, seeming chagrined.

Dakini nods quietly... then takes a moment to think about what Kern actually said. After a moment she frowns thoughtfully, "Okay... explain, please? You certainly didn't seem... I don't know... wolfish or anything?"

Kern chews on his lip a moment, as if caught in an inner debate. Finally, he reveals something he didn't intend to in all of this. "You could be Lydia's twin." he murmurs in an undertone. "And you already know how she affected me."

Dakini blinks again, "I beg your pardon?!"

Dakini says, "I... remind you of a dead woman?" She seems quite taken aback... then pauses, her eyes narrowing in thought. A moment later she goes, "Oh!" giving Kern a startled glance... and then suddenly having to struggle not to smile!"

Kern looks solemnly up at Dakini. "Your hair, your eyes...the way you laugh...and the way you've sometimes utterly turned me into a mental vegetable...yes, they all remind me of her. So, I apologize for that."

Dakini covers her mouth, but a giggle manages to slip past... she looks like she's struggling with both chagrin and delight! Hastily she adds, "Oh dear... Kern, I promise I'm not laughing at you -- it's just... well, it's such a relief to realize that my training's not slipped! You have no idea how often my Blutmutti and I have argued about this!"

Kern doesn't seem offended by anything save his own act that led to this. "Blütmütti? Is that some sort of teacher?"

Dakini shakes her head several times, then pauses -- then nods, her scarlet-gold hair flying for a moment, both hands across her mouth by this point. Her eyes are sparkling blue-green, and for a few startling seconds she looks very, very young. Finally she gets control of herself again, trusting herself enough to bring her hands down even though she's still grinning, "Er... ja unt nein, that is... it translates roughly to 'bloodmother,' and is the title of one of my mothers. She's the one that could use scent to influence people... her assertion was that we all try to manipulate each other all the time anyway, so what harm was she doing, when what she was trying for was a win-win situation anyway?" She sighs softly, picking up a piece of vegetable between slender fingers and nibbling on it a bit morosely. Finally she shakes her head and shrugs, "I... well, I know what she says makes sense, but... well, shouldn't intent mean more than that?"

Kern steeples his fingers together. "You've lost me. What intent?"

Kern says, "And moreover, I might argue that manipulation is not the primary goal of everyone."

Dakini says, "Wellll..." She fidgets a bit uncomfortably, "-well, yes, true... but I'm referring more to... well, you know... intent. The reason why you might try to influence someone. Even if all you want to be is friends, let alone close some deeply desired business deal... how do you know you're not accidentally influencing someone -- unless you take steps to negate whatever tools you have that act on a more um..." she thinks a bit, then nods, "-on a more instinctual or primal level? Things that affect us where we aren't rational... like pheromones, or hypnosis. That sort of thing, you know?"

Kern ahs understandingly. "I see. So her argument is that if you're already influencing a person in one way, what difference does another way matter."

Dakini nods emphatically, her shining mane rippling at the movement, "Right! And... well... I know she's my blutmutti, and I respect her wisdom because she's so much older than me, but..." she fidgets again, looking vaguely uncomfortable once more, "-but... well, it just feels wrong to me, you know?

Dakini morosely bites off the end of a bean with a sharp snap.

Kern nods, looking very wise. "Understandably so. Especially since, in humans, those signals are very subtle, the effect they have is also subtle. Such an unnatural compulsion, however, is something completely different. Telepaths and empaths often come up against similar ethical quandaries."

Kern smiles. "I assure you, however, that my brief moment of eye contact was not a result of that. Your looked...very appealing to my eyes at that moment."

Kern actually manages *not* to blush.

Dakini pauses, about to bite off another bit of innocent and inoffensive bean... she thinks a moment... then grins mischievously, her eyes sparkling at Kern again. She doesn't say anything... just grins at him, both knowingly and quite teasingly!

Kern's cheeks erupt into a cherry red. "Now you *are* being manipulative, you little minx," he growls embarrassedly. He doesn't look *that* displeased however.

Dakini laughs delightedly, unabashedly tossing a dinner roll at him, "Oh, giving me a straight line like that -- it's you being the little minx, you tease!"

Kern geeps! as he tries grabbing for the roll and misses, which promptly lands on his plate and splashes him with a little gravy juice.

Dakini covers another giggle, then grins sheepishly, "Sorry about that..." She leans over the table, patting with her napkin, "Freyja, that was clumsy of me..." She can't resist a quick, sideways glance at Kern though, still grinning delightedly... and if he happens to catch her glance she winks mischievously at him!

Kern imitates a ripe beet. "You're trying to see if you can get me to spontaneously combust, aren't you.

Dakini is making slightly stifled choking sounds as she does her best to control her delighted amusement -- she hastily shakes her head, her eyes still dancing, "Oh, no! Nonono, definitely not! Nope -- well, maybe..." and then she breaks out into peals of delighted laughter, unable to contain herself any more

Kern continues to cast a lovely scarlet hue as he picks at his plate. "oh well," he mumbles good naturedly. "Could be worse, I suppose. I don't know how, but I'm sure it could."

Dakini finally gets herself back under control, although the occasional giggle manages to slip past her. She whoofs softly, "Oh, lady, I haven't laughed that well in a long time! -thank you." Then she grins cheerfully at Kern, "Aww, it wasn't that bad, I hope? Surely it wasn't as bad as getting your foot caught in the stirrup as your mount takes off at a gallop, dragging you behind for a clik or two?"

Kern considers. "It's close to it. The only difference is that you get friction burns in addition to a tattered pride." he replies, grinning ruefully.

Dakini grins, patting Kern's hand lightly, "I'm sorry, Kern... it was a bit rude of me to laugh so. You're very kind to take it so well, from what is, in effect, just a foreigner."

Kern says, "Oh, come on, now, Dakini. True, the relationship we've had has been most confusing, but I think we've progressed at least past the 'strangers' part."

Kern grins lopsidedly at you. "After all, I don't let just anyone laugh at me."

Dakini smiles ruefully, "Well... there are those that still consider the folk from outside the Rift to be just strangers." She smiles more quietly at Kern, "Then I thank you, kind sir, for the courtesy. You are a true and gentle knight."

Kern makes a move to mock-play swat Dakini. "Oh hush. If you call me Sir Knight once more, I'm going to spank you. It's just plain Kern."

Dakini laughs again, completely unfazed by either threat, "All right then, Kern it is." She grins, "Kern-feeling-much-better, I'm glad I could help."

Kern blinks, trying to follow what Dakini just said...the joke hits him, and, bad as it is, he suddenly erupts into a giggle-fit of his own....something that sounds *very* strange coming from him!

Dakini grins delightedly again, obviously enjoying the moment... she seems, whenever feasible, to take things quite light-heartedly.

Kern slowly tries to stifle his laughter with his clenched fist, even to the point of biting down on it. "oh, me...you're horrible, you know that?"

Dakini clasps her hands dramatically, giving Kern a look of such sad-puppydog-eyed tragedy... "Horrible? Me?!"

Kern's lips twitch, his eyes sparkling like emeralds. "Oh, very well, I forgive you." he says, leaning forward and planting a chaste kiss on Dakini's clasped hands.

Dakini blinks startledly -- obviously it takes concentration to hold such a basset hound-eyed look, and she just lost it! -- then giggles at Kern, flicking one hand lightly open to loosely grab Kern's dark pony tail, "Tsk! Such a terrible threat from you... what shall I do with you, hm?"

Kern arches one eyebrow. "Well, I'm actually kind of curious if there's anything else about you reminiscent of Lydia...birthmarks for example...."

Dakini smiles lazily, "Oh, we're playing that game now, eh?" Her grin gets wicked, "Well, if you insist... so, how did you know what birthmarks Lydia had, hmmm?" Her tone gets purringly teasing, "Were we watching someplace we shouldn't have been, mmmmm?"

Kern absently feels a little lightheaded as the blood in his body takes a vacation to his face once again. "Right, okay, so you got me on that one>" he mumbles.

Dakini laughs softly, and sits back, releasing his pony tail by letting it run lightly through her fingers. She smiles at Kern, then refills his wine glass to give him a moment to recover. "It's all right, Kern... I bet she wasn't too upset. It's the not asking permission first that annoys most, from what I can tell."

Kern clears his throat as he thankfully takes the wine. "Yes, well...she got back her own and with interest. So I formally surrender on the condition that I can retreat with my dignity semi intact."

Dakini giggles softly, then relents, "Well... actually all I was going to ask you was what that neat ring on your finger was, silly."

Kern holds up his hand, displaying the oval rogue-stone ring. "This? It was a present from father, upon the regaining of my magic, to replace the ring he gave me after the Harper tribunal."

Dakini studies it with interest, "Very nice. Is it merely commemorative, or does it do something as well?"

Kern smiles. "Well, it has a few imbued spell effects, just like my old emerald ring...mostly it acts as a focus for wild magic, to minimize possible wild surges as a result of the chaotic nature of the magic."

Dakini grins, "Aww... you don't like chaos? Tsk... but it's that element of risk, of danger, that gives meaning and excitement to life!"

Kern chuckles at Dakini. "If I didn't see the value of chaos, I wouldn't have agreed to lead father's Knights. But one of the teachings is that chaos is a means, and not simply an end. Besides, I like to keep my companions alive, and I can't do that if I run the risk of having a fireball detonating in the 'Path when I simply try to warm my soup."

Dakini tosses her head back in laughter! -then grins mischievously at Kern, "So... with a statement like that I guess that means you've met Loki in the Path too, eh?"

Kern blinks. "Loki? That old trickster got stuck on this side of the Rift?"

Dakini looks puzzled, "Er... not that I know of? I was just teasing about the comment of making a fireball instead of warming soup." She grins.

Kern says, "Ahhhh. I see. Yes, I'm familiar with him...or her, depending on what s/he's in the mood for."

Kern shakes his head. "Most people are happy with just *one* gender...

Dakini grins, "Depends on whether you want your triple to be one of each, or both the same, I suppose..."

Dakini says, "Er, excuse me... you couple here, that's right. My mistake."

Kern blinks, his face receiving a fresh shipment of red pigment. "That sounded obscurely naughty, so I think I'll do myself a favor and not pursue that..."

Dakini looks puzzled again, "Er... it was? Oh dear... I hadn't realized discussion of marriage was considered naughty here." She looks chagrined, "I'm sorry, Kern... my mistake again."

Kern blinks. "That was about marriage? Oh. Well, that's still odd, but not as bad, I guess." Intent on pushing his blood back to where it belongs, he doesn't go one to say what he *thought* Dakini was talking about. His mind does manage o come up with some vivid images, though.

Dakini nods, "Glad to hear it." She studies Kern for a moment... and then suddenly gets that irrepressible, mischievous grin again! Her voice is artlessly casual, "So... penny for your thoughts, mmmm?"

Kern coughs nervously. "I think not. The thoughts you just gave me are more likely to be sold to a hedonistic enterprise."

Dakini laughs delightedly again! -then cheerfully bounces to her feet, grabbing Kern's hand impetuously, "You're so much fun, Kern, thank you! -and it's a lovely night... shall we go for a nice walk? Maybe down to the Path?"

Kern smiles wryly, unhesitatingly putting his hand in Dakini's. "Sure. We can show off 1001 shades of red to the customers."

Dakini giggles delightedly again, easily pulling Kern to his feet -- and giving him a quick, cheerful hug as well! Then she's off to pull on her boots, jacket, and weapons belt... and give Kern a moment to regain himself...

THUD!

Dakini turns at the thud, with a puzzled look, half in and half out of her jacket -- then her eyes widen, "Kern! Are you all right?!"

Dakini darts over, checking him over quickly and carefully... no injuries, hm. Well... faint, maybe? She swiftly loosens his collar, raises his feet slightly with a pillow...

Kern seems to have collapsed, though he still looks awake. "Now look what you did," he says petulantly. "My poor, blood starved legs fell asleep on me and couldn't retain my weight..."

Dakini picks a glass of water up off the pedestal next to her, and slides an arm under Kern's shoulders, "Hmf. Some excuse for scaring me half to death." She's smiling as she speaks though, raising him up just enough so he can sip at the glass she's got in hand, "Here... drink slowly now..."

Kern obeys, drinking thirstily.

Dakini lets Kern lean against her, giving him a moment to just breath, drink, and relax, one after the other.

Kern reaches up after several moments to rub at his eyes. "Eyugggh. Okay, the lightheadedness is kinda fading...and I'm starting to feel my feet again..."

Dakini smiles, letting Kern down gently and putting a pillow under his head also, "No hurry, Kern. Take your time." She remains kneeling next to Kern, the empty glass forgotten in one hand, and grins with gentle affection at the poor man, "All right... so I was a little heavy handed in teasing you tonight. I do apologize."

Kern smiles kindly. "Ah, but that's the thing about you, Dakini. I can never stay mad at you." Unconsciously, he reaches up with a hand, lightly brushing his fingers against Dakini's face in a gentle caress.

Dakini chuckles again, catching his fingers lightly, "Careful, you... I won't have you passing out again on me like that." She pauses a moment, then says carefully, "Kern... I do hope you'll pardon me mentioning this... but... well, I'm very sorry you were unpleasantly startled to discover that Hati is my slave." She looks unwontedly sober for a moment, "Believe me, neither Hati nor I want you unhappy with us. We both find you a genuinely kind-hearted person... and those are few and far between here."

Kern exhales a sigh, pursing his lips. "I understand. It is not a thing I can easily comprehend. But, as the saying goes, you cannot free a fish from water. Hati is happy with circumstances as they are. And I can hardly berate you for anything save the mores of a society that is not mine. You have nothing to apologize for." Kern leaves his hand captive in yours...though there is yet a gentle movement of his fingertips against Dakini's palm as he gazes into her eyes.

Dakini smiles at Kern quietly, "I'm glad to hear it, then." She thinks a moment, then grins ruefully, "Okay... so maybe the garden would be better than the Path... get you some fresh air, ja?"

Dakini rises gracefully, helping Kern to his feet with no apparent effort.

Kern smiles beatifically. "You know how to sweep a guy off his feet."

Dakini grins cheerfully, "Benefits of childhood on a high gravity world, my dear!" She shrugs all the way into her jacket, then draws his arm through hers, and with a dramatic flourish proclaims, "So! Shall we paint the town red, dahlink? or at least liven up Dammerung's gardens a bit?"

Kern smiles. "Your command is my wish, lovely lady."

    The Courtyard of Dammerung
    You see a huge, curving, organic shape before you, in swirling shades of dusky ebony and soft dove gray, gleaming with cobalt blue accents. Dark, dusty, bottle-green [shrubbery] clusters below the low, round windows and about the slender path twisting to the doorway. The upper reaches of the building itself stretch slowly skywards in elegant, reaching branches and lofty minarets. More cobalt-bordered round windows peer down at the visitor, occasionally framed with an azure-walled balcony or a temporarily exposed stairway twisting around from one branch to another. The word "Dammerung" glows in vivid, scrolling script over the large, round doorway, and the [building] itself seems to sigh softly in the breeze, as if alive.

Dryx enters Dammerung's courtyard from Faern Way through the heavy, ornate iron gate.

Dakini is just settling down on a veined blue rock, speaking animatedly to Kern as she does so, when Dryx arrives. She pauses, looking up, then grins and waves, "Dryx! Hello there... have you met Sir Kern yet?"

    Wrapped in the dusty trappings of a vagrant, this drifter holds himself with an unassuming air and a reserved posture, despite his six feet of height. His boots are dirty; the leather battered, the soles worn. His tunic has lost its sleeves, ragged and faded gray with age, use, and the dust of the highway, tucked into loose black breeches held by a simple, wide sash, knotted at the side. A dark gray traveling cloak falls over his narrow shoulders, and his gaunt arms are covered with tattered wrappings that partially cover his long fingers. What the frayed cloth does to hide his reedy frame, it cannot do for his other features; his skin is smooth and a pale yellow hue, his eyes long, almond-shaped, liquid and black. Dark rosette spots splash across his cheekbones and trail back across his temples, toward the narrow slash of straight black hair tied tightly back atop his head. His ears point delicately, tapering to fine serration at the back. Quietly, he draws his cloak more closely around himself and adjusts his hood, withdrawn and somehow weary-seeming.

Dakini smiles at both the men, "Pull up a rock, as they say, and make yourselves comfortable, if you'd like?"

Dryx hovers in the shadows cast by the shrubbery on the path. "No... I don't think I have." Nevertheless he remains back by the path. "Perhaps I've come at a bad time."

Dakini settles herself comfortably as well... then gets a faintly mischievous look and pulls off her boots. A moment later she's happily splashing her toes in the little pond.

Dakini glances up at Dryx, still grinning, "What's a bad time? Come on out of the shadows and say hi, silly."

Kern blinks briefly at the newcomer, looking rather pale himself as he finds a likely resting place. "Nonsense. Come into the light and chat, old boy."

Dakini grins in obvious high good humor, and lightly splashes water towards the shadowy figure, "Unless you melt, it's not a bad time!"

Dryx makes a soft noise in his throat. "Hrmm. All right." He moves off of the path and glides down toward the water... He nods once to Kern and to Dakini, then kneels, dipping his hands into the small pond. It seems he's not wearing his arm wrappings.

Kern blinks at Dryx, but makes no comment as to the man's clothes. "Where do you hail from sirrah?"

Dakini smiles, politely not splashing the newcomer. Instead she says, "Dryx is new to Arcana City. Dryx, this is Sir Kern Denseran zu Xandros."

Dryx glances up from the water, his hood casting a heavy shadow across his eyes. "I hail from the road... I'm a traveler."

Dryx nods, "Pleased to meet you, Kern Denseran. I'm Dryx." He makes the word two syllables.

Kern blinks. "Well met, Dryx. Though admit some curiosity as to what road would bring you to a city adrift on a chunk of rock."

Kern chuckles. "Unless you were just speaking metaphorically."

Dakini points out pragmatically, "Maybe he's a sell-sword when the need arises?"

Dakini says, "And the spelljammers were certainly hiring while the neogi threat was still extant."

Kern smiles at Dakini. "Certainly possible, I was merely taking issue with his use of the word 'road' to make a small joke. Obviously, he could not have walked *here*."

Kern coughs. "I meant no offense."

Dakini grins lazily, kicking her feet slightly to make the water plash softly, "Oh foo... you're just too cute to be offensive, Kern!" Her grin is rather roguish.

Dryx sits back from the water, legs crossed beneath him, and folds his hands in his lap. "I simply do what will keep me moving... I've worked passage on spelljammers before. But to give you an answer... I go where my feet and the ether take me. They bring me here tonight." His face is like a mask; carefully impassive. His rasping half-whisper robs him of most inflection; if he's offended, he isn't showing it.

Dakini grins teasingly at the impassive figure, then murmurs, "Why do I have this sudden urge to tell raunchily naughty jokes tonight... just to see who laughs?"

Kern glances briefly at Dakini. "Hush, you minx. Unless you want to be splashing some of that water on my face to bring me around again."

Dryx turns his head slightly and fixes his ocean-dweller stare on Dakini. "Dakini. Are you in the habit of knocking all your guests unconscious?"

Kern stifles a laugh.

Dakini obliges cheerfully with a toss of her foot, "No problem!" Water goes flying and she grins, "Careful who you're calling minx, too... it's you that's being the tempting tease!" She grins equally cheerfully at Dryx, "Only the ones that don't know never to tease a teaser!"

Dryx mms and turns to look at the water again. "Must always know your opponent," he murmurs thoughtfully.

Kern hrms and looks at his feet. "I wasn't aware blushing like a ripe tomato was a tease."

Dakini laughs delightedly, tossing her scarlet-gold mane back, then grins, eyes dancing with amusement, at both men,

Dakini says, "Well now, it depends... depends on what you want to do with your opponent, Dryx! -and depends on whether blushing modestly is considered enticing here as well, Kern!"

Kern sighs and looks to the sky. "Why me?" he says mock mournfully.

"Because you're a valid target," offers the quiet man.

Dakini blinks at a sudden thought, "Oooh, wait... men are supposedly the active members of relationships here, right? -and women are the passive ones? Huh... so maybe you really don't realize how charming your behavior is, Kern." She grins cheerfully at Dryx, "Yeppers! far as I know he's not got partners yet... so he's a valid target." With airy nonchalance she adds, "Of course... so are you..."

Dryx turns his head a bit, and arches one graceful forked brow. "You're a terribly amusing woman, Dakini."

Dakini grins with lazy mischief, "Indeed."

Dakini adds solemnly, "Terribly."

Dakini grins irrepressibly again.

Kern laughs in spite of himself. "I'm doomed."

Dakini beams, "Ah, but was it not you yourself, Kern, that said you were a slave to destiny?" She giggles, "Doom is such a harsh word too... surely umm... surely 'cheerfully nudged' works better there?"

Kern says, "oh certainly, my mistake. I'm being nudged into a hell where I'm being made to blush so much I can't feel my feet to escape. You might as well call me Sisyphus and give me a boulder."

Dryx says, "If you can't feel your feet, perhaps you should reconsider how you're sitting."

Dakini laughs with obvious delight... and no remorse at all! -then hmfs at Kern, "Hell?! I'm... I'm insulted!"

Dakini grins.

Dakini adds with mock dignity, "Terribly," then giggles delightedly at Dryx' comment!

Kern winks dryly at Dakini. "Well, heaven doesn't involve torment."

Dakini grins lazily at Kern, murmuring only, "Are you suuuuuure?"

Dakini cheerfully adds to Dryx, "I'm guessing he's ticklish too..." her grin gets wicked again as she adds, "...are you?"

Kern says, "Well, I've never *been* to Heaven, but somehow I doubt f-...I doubt my patron god Xandros would make me suffer like this."

Dryx draws his cloak closer around himself. "No one has ever attempted to find out."

Kern says, "Stay back with your tickling fingers, vile temptress! Don't make me cast an Anti-Tickle Shell!"

Kern says this faux-dramatically.

Dakini tilts her head slowly at Kern... then smiles, just as slowly, her eyes bright and teasing. She murmurs softly, "oh, no... you poor thing..."

Kern flinches at Dakini's gaze.

Dakini giggles in spite of herself, politely looking away.

Dryx narrows his eyes slightly, and looks between them. He wonders if she's used some sort of psionic discipline to dominate this one.. Fascinating.

Kern sighs dramatically. Xandros protect me."

Dakini laughs again! then grins at Kern, "How do you know he's not already?"

Dakini grins, turning her gaze to Dryx, "Something?"

Kern hmms? as his ring pulses with a soft glow. "Ah. Saved by the ring. You'll have to torture me with your wiles at some later date. My fellow knights call."

Dryx nods. "A pleasure."

Dakini laughs at Kern's comment, then grins and waves to him, "Flee while you still can, my pretty!" She winks cheerfully as he scrambles to his feet.

Kern looks at Dakini with a wry smile. Then the rest of him fades, except for the smile. Then that's gone too.

Dakini giggles softly.

Dryx says, "That illusion fades in an unsettling manner."

Dakini says, "The Cheshire mage... I think he's teasing back."

Dakini smiles, shifting to the spoken tongue, "That was a pet I was fond of. Belonged to one of my mothers. So..." she looks curious, "What were you looking so pensive about earlier?"

Dryx pushes back his cloak, and dips his hand into the water. His tattoo swims up to him, and slides onto his forearm. "I didn't know your friend. I didn't want him to see the blood."

Dakini looks curious, "Is that what that is? a spell of sorts, made of blood?"

Dakini leans forward to study it more curiously, unless Dryx pulls back or seems uncomfortable with her proximity.

Dryx shakes his softly, "No... it's a psionic power bound into ink and flesh. But I don't know how to make them. And I can't bring myself to part with it..." He leans away slightly, then settles back, and holds out his arm for her examination. "The blood was on my hands... that's why I was washing them."

Dakini looks up sharply... then says gently, "Whose, Dryx?"

Dryx sighs softly, and looks back at the water. "A Flayer. I found one as it was entering the bazaar from below. I tell you this only because you would learn sooner or later..."

Dakini studies the githyanki quietly for a moment... then finally says, "They were your people's hereditary sl- er, enemies, ja?"

Dryx folds his hands in his lap again. "They built an empire on the bones of hundreds of peoples. Mine and the 'zerai are merely two. I don't believe in revenge, Dakini... but I know how they work. And while they may pretend to be thralls of the state... they have the drive that I showed to you."

Dakini nods slowly. She doesn't seem upset, just mildly worried, as she thinks for a while. Finally she says slowly, "Tell me please, how you feel about slave owners in general? And are you aware of the laws here in Arcana City?"

Dryx nods softly. "Slavery is what happens to those that can't defend themselves. To own a slave means only that you have more muscle or more money than another. In the end that means little. As for the laws... I know them."

Dakini nods at the comment about slavery, then says slowly, "Do you understand then that you shouldn't kill flayers here where members of the EIF can see you?"

Dryx says, "When I kill, Dakini... no one sees. That's what I do... or did, at any rate."

Dakini nods quietly again, "All right." She sighs softly, then murmurs with a wry smile, "Pity it wasn't neogi..."

Dryx sighs again. "I don't know why I've chosen to tell you this... if you're using a discipline on me, Dakini, then I bow to your talent."

Dakini sits back suddenly, looking faintly insulted -- then pauses and sighs again, "That... that's what you're used to, isn't it? -just being forced?"

Dryx pulls his hood back and shakes his head in his queer little way, reaching back to pull the small red ribbon from his hair. "I am Githyanki. We, each of us, are the blades of our Queen. From the day we can hold a weapon... we aren't expected to question our futures." By way of direct answer, he says, "But there are methods for dealing with dissent, even among our ranks."

Dakini tilts her head curiously at the rogue githyanki, watching as he loosens his hair. She finally asks softly, "So... what caused you to question yours? Do you ever miss your home and your certainty?"

Dryx looks up, past the distant spires of the city, and closes his eyes. "Everyone lives on borrowed time. Everyone dies." He sighs heavily and lies back on the grass, folding his arms. "But not my lady Queen. No... she has lived since the Flayers fell.. she's seen our people and the Githzerai come to blows. She lives by borrowing the time of others."

Dakini listens in silent interest... when the quiet man lays back on the grass she shifts to lie on her stomach nearby, her feet waving slowly in the air, resting her chin on her folded arms and letting Dryx answer her questions in his own good time.

Dryx opens his eyes again, and takes a breath. "As I grew older... as I did my chosen task... each time I returned home, I would see fewer and fewer faces that I knew. Old acquaintances would stop appearing. New ones would vanish before ever I knew them. Wars outside of our hold... accidents..."

Dryx says, "And then I discovered the punishment reserved for those who threatened the rule of our Queen."

Dakini winces slightly in sympathy. She's not lived through this, but she's heard relatives talk of watching old friends all slowly dying... she pushes back memory and nods to Dryx to go on.

Dryx frowns. It is a far more natural-seeming gesture than his cracking smile. "To defy our Lady, is to forfeit your soul to her, to extend her rule by so many years. And then I realized, after not very long at all, that simply living long enough poses a threat to her."

Dakini nods slowly... she can see that easily.

Dakini says, "So... you left?" She sighs softly again... poor man. "I'm surprised you made it away, if she was that um... alert to threats to her rule?"

Dryx smiles ruefully. "They trained me very well in my hold. I had decided that if my soul belonged to her, then my life would be mine alone. And so, when next my assignment called me to the world of men, I simply saw to it that the proof of my success made it to the proper hands... and never returned from that mission. I have never failed my country, or Queen."

Dakini watches the lone githyanki quietly for a long moment, her chin resting on her crossed hands... then finally she sighs softly and slowly, "I... see, I think. So... now you are trying out what it is like living without that absolute certainty of purpose?" She thinks a moment, then adds quietly, "Do you like it? or is it lonely for you?"

Dryx laughs softly. "I still feel certain, Dakini. I know that one day she'll come for me. What I'm doing now... is living as hard as I can. She'll have to wring every last second from me... and fight for every last moment."

Dakini smiles, and politely doesn't comment on Dryx' having managed to miss her query concerning loneliness twice now. That's all right... it's not really her business anyway. She nods to the githyanki, "Then at least you are getting to live, ja? -to do what you want to do?"

Dryx smiles bemusedly. "That's a good question. I don't know what I want to do... all I knew at the time I left was that I needed to move, and quickly... and to keep moving. Since then I've been doing because that's what I know. I know how to move... and how to kill. And I've no real desire to kill professionally anymore. I suppose what I really want is to stay alive as long as I can... but perhaps that's just old spite. I've no one to tell me if that's true, though, and I've lost the ability to tell."

Dakini ponders for a moment, then curiously asks, "Do you want someone to tell you that?"

Dakini says, "Or rather, not so much someone to tell you what to do... as someone to help you with things like that?"

Dryx says, "I'd be curious to find out..."

Dakini smiles, "Then why not ask someone whose opinion you trusted?"

Dryx turns his head a bit to regard this woman carefully for several long moments. "...that is a good idea."

Dakini looks curious, "What? Did I say something rude?"

Dryx smiles a bit. "No... no you didn't. I was... just considering why it is that I trust your opinion, when I didn't know you before yesterday."

Dakini ahs softly, then gives the question some serious thought.

Dakini hms, "Well, it's merely speculation on my part, but I would guess that it has to do with your psionic ability being able to sense to some degree that I'm not bullshitting you?"

Dryx hms. "That could be... I've never sensed any deception from you. Admittedly I've never probed to see, but... I doubt that I'd find deception in you. I doubt that even my old master would."

Dakini chuckles quietly, "I have very simple needs... to keep my people and myself safe. No one believes that though, when I tell them that." She grins wryly, muttering, "Maybe I should just change my name to Cassandra..."

Dryx shakes his head. "I understand simple needs. Safety is a valid goal... and there's no shame in simplicity. But.. of course I feel that way; I've spent ten years with no concern but my own safety."

Dakini curiously asks, "Don't you ever wish to protect again, like you used to? Or is this a relief to you now -- to be responsible only for yourself?"

Dryx takes another deep breath. "I don't know that I was ever a protector... but it feels good to think that my quietly removing someone kept some of my fellows from dying against the walls of another hold."

Dakini hms, thinking quietly again... then asks, "So... not a protector? Well... what or who do you want to be, then, Dryx?"

Dryx closes his eyes again. "I wish I knew, Dakini. I feel sometimes as if I abandoned my people... but then they don't all feel the way that I do about service to our Lady. I want... to be a man without guilt in my heart. So that I can meet her eyes when she comes for me."

Dakini murmurs gently, "You already can, Dryx. As you said yourself, you've never failed your country or your queen."

Dryx says, "Perhaps you're right. I suppose that it's possible that time magnifies small doubts... I've had years to nurse them."

Dakini smiles, "Then why not give yourself something to do, to help dispel your doubts?"

Dryx says, "What would you suggest?"

Dakini hms... "Well... is there anything you enjoy doing? What gives you pleasure?"

Dryx hmms, and licks one of his canines absently. "I haven't had time for pleasure in so long... but, last night I took your suggestion and asked Dammerung to filter the energy from Raido. I was able to undo the wards around my thoughts for a time... and I dreamed. For the first time since my childhood. That gave me pleasure when I woke. And tonight... hm. Tonight is complicated." He sits up on his elbows. "I don't take much pleasure in killing... other than the pride that one feels in knowing one does something well. As ghoulish as that sounds. But.. I did feel great relief when it was done. I've no great attachment to Arcana City, but I have even less desire to see Illithids gain a foothold in the Wilds. I was... glad to be pruning their strength."

Dakini nods thoughtfully, listening.

Dakini says, "So... you like being able to relax your wards and let yourself rest... you like fulfilling... hm... is it a racial imperative for you, or just powerful training, do you know? and... is there anything else you like doing?"

Dryx thinks on that for a time. "I don't know if it's racial imperative. The Illithids are reviled and hated, certainly... but they're regarded as an ancient threat... we're a proud people. The sentiment is that we could crush the Illithids if they attacked a second time. I have a difficult time giving voice to my feelings... other than to say that what I did tonight simply felt right."

Dryx says, "As for the last... I'm not sure."

Dakini smiles, "It is good to take pride in one's work, ja." She thinks for a moment...

Dryx laughs softly.

Dakini mms? inquiringly.

Dryx says, "I'm glad you agree."

Dakini smiles ruefully, "Well... I've had some training in being a protector... and I've always preferred, when fulfilling that role, to have both someone to protect and someone I could turn to that could justify my actions."

Dakini smiles, shrugging slightly, "Ergo... taking pride in one's work."

Dryx nods. "Justification is important... if one leaves oneself open to doubt, guilt creeps in behind."

Dakini says, "And with guilt comes uncertainty... and eventually you slip. Confidence in the correctness of one's action is important, I feel..." she smiles again in quiet rue, "-if one is to avoid simply being a butcher. Having someone to turn to gave me that."

Dryx nods softly. "You understand."

Dakini pauses for a long moment... then nods slowly, "I... think so. I would not presume to assume that for you... but I think so." Her smile gets wry again, "Unfortunately, at some point my training was such that I was moved to a different position in such relationships... now I can't just be a warrior any more. I have people that depend on me... that turn to me." She sighs, long and slow, then adds quietly, "It was certainly... simpler then..."

Dryx sits up and rolls his shoulders. "Of all the things that I gave up... the clarity is what I miss the most. I'm sorry if I raised something better left buried for you."

Dakini chuckled quietly, still relaxedly flopped out on the grass, "Nein, not really... it is like life -- it flows along in its cycles, and we play the parts we are most trained or suited for. It is not that it is painful now... but to worry about being good for someone else, to have people to care for, that depend on you... that is, quite simply, not as straightforward a mental act as simply being a warrior and protector was. That's all."

Dryx says, "I don't sense any regret in your voice. That's good."

Dakini smiles, "No. I'm very proud of my Hati, and of Dammerung. They're both strong and healthy, and able to help others when necessary. It is, if I may say so myself, a good relationship between us... we all understand that we must aid and support each other, each in our own ways."

Dryx nods. "I can understand that... it's often hard to stand on your own. Especially in... times such as these."

Dakini gives Dryx a quietly commiserative glance, "Ja... you have my sympathies. I do not envy you."

Dakini rolls her eyes in sudden exasperation, "I'm sorry... that sounded like I was being rude... that's not what I meant."

Dryx smiles lopsidedly. "No, no. That's good... it shows you've good sense to go with great empathy."

Dakini chuckles wryly, "And a big mouth... and nosiness." She grins, "Sorry... I did not mean to push... it's just that you interest me. You're a bit of an enigma... of a species that I would have thought would truly hate being alone -- and yet, here you are."

Dryx smiles a little more. "I think that's why they let me go so easily... perhaps they thought me mad. As for your interest... I find that despite my training, and despite years of working to blend in, that it's not entirely unpleasant."

Dakini smiles in return, "Well then... if it's not too annoying, I shan't attempt to curb it... although I must say you do stand out, as a singleton githyanki." She grins, "Sorry, but it's true."

Dryx says, "There's no need to apologize. I've worked passage on the spelljammers, remember... I've spent years in the company of men who thought nothing of making disparaging commentary on my spots."

Dakini blinks a bit, then says with annoyance, "How rude! People don't say disparaging things about Hati or Dammerung around me, that's for sure!"

Dryx mms. "I believe it. My effectiveness as a sell-sword usually served to silence boorish sailing mates... strength is one thing that they do seem to respect." He rolls his dark eyes a bit, suddenly recalling something. "Of course, there are always exceptions... an overly-curious merchant captain comes to mind."

Dakini grins suddenly, "Dare I ask what happens to the overly-curious around you?"

Dryx grins a little. "You needn't worry yourself. I worked once for an elven woman who cared nothing for my skill, nothing for the power of my mind... she wanted only to know whether I had spots on... other parts of my body. And simply would not take 'none of your business' for an answer."

Dakini blinks... then wrinkles her nose a bit in disgust, "Eeeew... that's asinine. Sorry to hear it." She frowns, looking momentarily irritated, "What is it with some people -- that they can't seem to understand that hierarchy conveys responsibility... not privilege?"

Dryx smiles a little. "It's something I'm used to... oftentimes, when you're the sole voice of authority on a ship, alone in the ether, it's something that develops out of habit, I believe. I had my revenge on her, though."

Dakini shakes her head firmly, "Being the voice of authority anywhere means you must remember that much more strongly... that power comes from below. It's granted to you, by those you care for and command. It's not a right."

Dryx says, "You say that because you've seen the below and you know the real way of things. Not everyone is so lucky; to be properly informed. I can only feel pity for someone that knows not where their strength lies. They're deceiving themselves."

Dakini nods quietly, her gaze far away for a moment... then she sighs, glancing at the githyanki again, "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to lecture at you."

Dryx shakes his head. "Not at all. I can hardly turn away worthy conversation. Remember," he grins, "That I've been spending my time in the company of boatswain's mates. Shall I tell you how I resolved my dispute with that captain?"

Dakini smiles quietly, "Sure."

Dryx smiles a bit. "Eventually I stated that I would defer to her, but only in private... I had no desire to satisfy the curiosity of the deckhands. So that night she brought me to her chambers, and I, obedient-seeming enough, set aside my cloak and began to remove my clothes. When I had taken off my tunic, I turned to her as if seeking approval. Just then, my tattoo crawled off my forearm, across my shoulders, and settled across my neck. She instructed me that henceforth I would wear my cloak while on deck at all times."

Dakini laughs softly, "Seems only fair!"

Dryx grins softly. "I found that more than equitable."

Dakini smiles, then asks curiously, "So... had she not been so resistant to listening to you, would you have continued to serve on her ship?"

Dryx says, "I might have considered it. But when we arrived at the port that I was working passage to, she did not offer to take me on again, and I didn't ask. It has happened, though... I've worked for captains that found me useful, and for captains that I thought might benefit from my aid. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement. They receive my skill, and it keeps me moving. And eating, as well, which is also important.""

Dakini nods slowly, "So... what you need is someone that you feel you help somehow, who keeps you moving, I take it?"

Dryx thinks a moment, and nods. "Yes... that's a good way to put it. Each time I considered ending my wandering, it was when I was with someone whom I felt benefited from my presence. When an employer seemed to value me, I enjoyed seeing them prosper for my aid."

Dakini sighs softly, "Well, I'd ordinarily be happy to offer you a lift out through the Rift, which would make it rather hard for your queen to find you... but I'm sorry to say the Rift has closed." She mutters quietly, "We will find a way out eventually, though..."

Dryx says, "You're a wanderer as well, then."

Dakini smiles, "Ja. This is my first walkabout."

Dryx nods. "Do you enjoy it?"

Dakini beams, "Intensely. To my mothers I'm terribly young still -- but an infant! -- but to just about every culture I've been to I'm regarded as adult... as middle aged, in fact, to some of them!" Her grin gets wry again, "Bit disorienting on occasion... anyway, so usually I traveled with my family. After much discussion and argumentation I finally convinced my mothers to let me go a-wandering on my own, without their oversight and worry lurking in orbit above." She grins affectionately, "They're both terribly sweet... but I wanted to really go walkabout. So I've been doing so for um..." She pauses, thinking a bit, then says slowly, "Well, it depends on what planet you're on, but if we assume the planet is about one AU from their main star, then I'd say I've been wandering somewhere between one and two decades."

Dryx nods, listening quietly. "Travel is a very informative experience... for all the hardship, I wouldn't trade it--" He blinks, considering something, "I'm sorry, did you say your mothers? More than one?"

Dakini nods, smiling, "Ja. Two mothers. It is normal to have three parents in the culture my blutmutti came from."

Dakini says, "Marriage and families that want children are triples, not couples. Safer for the children... if one parent dies there are still two to raise them."

Dryx hmms. "I see. I had but two... though I wasn't with them for long."

Dakini nods quietly, "I... rather guessed that, from the conditioning you'd mentioned."

Dryx nods. "I still feel some pride in them, even after so long. My mother was as fierce and dangerous a warrior as I've ever known. It's strange, yes?"

Dakini says, "What is? That you take pride in your family? No, that's not strange. My mothers are both beautiful and terrible women. I hope some day to be even half as wonderful as either of them."

Dryx hms. "It's good to have something to aspire to. To model oneself on. Even today, I still wish to be as skilled as my parents... they were fighters, you understand, not assassins like myself. It was some small relief that I did not see them after I came of age... in a people with a strong warrior tradition, it's not a role that I know I could have borne comfortably in their eyes."

Dakini smiles, "Why not become a warrior then, if that would be a role that would give you pride?"

Dryx smiles ruefully, "I was a warrior, you see. It so happens, however, that I wasn't very good at it. I was consistently last among my peers in terms of single combat. But my old master said that I had a gifted tactical mind, a term I'm still unclear on; and showed me a path that I was indeed talented in." He laughs softly. "He was fond of speaking in uncertain terms. Though perhaps you're right... perhaps it isn't too late for me to step out of the shadow."

Dakini grins, "Hey, if I can get shoved out of being a warrior into being responsible for my people... surely you can get shoved out of the shadows and into being a warrior, eh?"

Dryx smiles. "Perhaps so. I'd need to find a forge; one bit of racial prejudice I've never been able to shake is that a warrior should never be without proper equipment... but perhaps it's a good idea. Not.. just yet, though. I think that the shadows still have some refuge for me. At least until this... business with Illithid and Neogi is concluded, yes?"

Dakini smiles and shrugs slightly, "I suspect it's pretty much wrapped up. And it's not racial prejudice... I quite agree in regards to proper and well-maintained tools."

Dryx mms, "Ah, it's not quite a mania among my people. It's not uncommon for a warrior to have more affection for his panoply than his mate."

Dakini thinks a moment, then adds slowly, "Perhaps you should start working on your tools... if there is a need for shadows, it would be a good cover for you -- to be in the process of receiving tools instead of having them... or so it would seem?"

Dakini chuckles, "All right, that I'd say is... a bit unusual. But as you wish, of course."

Dryx smiles, "I'm not quite that obsessed. I've discovered through long experience than one can do more with less. I think you may have a point, though. Perhaps I should start working."

Dakini sits up, pushing her scarlet-gold mane back, and settles comfortably cross-legged. Curiously she asks, "So... who will you chose to serve when you're properly appareled? -if it's not rude of me to ask?"

Dryx says, "That remains to be seen, yes? Perhaps I'll serve no one at all, and give my aid where it seems to be needed. It's a romantic notion."

Dakini smiles, "Good luck." She covers a sudden yawn, then adds, "If you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to turn in. It's been fascinating chatting with you, but it's been a very long day, I fear."

Dryx nods and stands slowly, dusting himself off. "If day you can call it. These Drow... it's a strain even on the eyes of an assassin."



(OOC) Mon Apr 2 1901 10:37 PM by "Cynergy" at "Inner Dawnstar" (OOC)

    Inner Dawnstar
    You stand in an airy, spacious room, which nevertheless manages to feel almost cozy. This might be due to the multiple, slightly irregular rows of waist-high protrusions from the floor -- obviously restful beds for the injured. The room is comfortably warm and smells pleasantly neutral -- a kindness for those who find strong scents painful. Niches in the wall by each bed hold neatly rolled bandages, a glass of water, and other useful and applicable tools of the nursing trade. Glow bulbs light the room well, gleaming in regular rows along the ribs of the room, which arch gracefully up to meet high above, somehow muting distant sound to nothing more than a soft murmur. While it's not immediately obvious, the room is tidily warded against technical, magical, or psionic intrusion, along with several other types of less-common protections.

    Layers of melted gold, her hair falls in soft curls to her waist, reflecting with metallic shine. Steady emerald eyes glitter with iridescent flecks; thick black lashes sweep down occasionally to brush porcelain skin. Her soft, wide mouth betrays no expression. Her bone structure is delicate, cheekbones high, not sharp as most elven females. Cynergy's body is a 5'2" promise of strength and grace. Long, lean muscles show perfect fitness, revealed by the unforgiving nature of her EIN flightsuit. Wide straps encase her from neck to kneecaps, binding tightly across every part of her. Her tummy is flat and broad within soft black leather and snow-white elastic, her waist small compared to the flair of hips. Tall boots are polished to a regulation dull glow. The overall effect accentuates her diminutive size. A patch that weaves between some of the straps above her left breast displays Captain's rankbars, EIN symbol, Oloth fleet, and her ship. "Vrinn" is scripted in gold thread beneath it all.

    Safix stands a shade under 5 feet tall. Her clean skin is deep golden, against which her arched white eyebrows and thick lashes stand in sharp contrast. Her shaggy white hair falls manelike around her face to touch her shoulders at the longest points, and the sides are tucked behind her delicately pointed ears, revealing three small, slim silver rings piercing the lower part of each, and a fourth ring at each tip. Green eyes with a narrow circle of red around each pupil look back at you from her triangular, sharp-featured face. She's wearing a dark red tunic today, loosely belted with black cloth, over tight black pants tucked into black leather boots laced to the knee. A simple band of silver chainmail circles her throat.

Safix wanders in, looking tired, to check on the wounded still here.

Cynergy's breathing changes just as Safix comes further into the room. Deep and steady breaths become more shallow, markedly more quiet, and... guarded. Otherwise, Cynergy doesn't move... yet.

Safix doesn't really notice the elven woman's change in breath yet, too busy trying to stay awake and check the other sleeping patients before she gets closer to Cynergy's bed.

Safix winds her way closer to Cynergy, yawning a little, and pauses, eyeing the elf on the bed... who isn't breathing like she's asleep anymore. Bleh. I had to be alone when a stranger woke up after a trauma... hope she's not mind-controlled or whatever they were talking about after the battle...

Safix stops about three feet away from Cynergy's bed, standing relaxed but balanced. She coughs gently, and says, "You're safe now. The neogi lost the battle; you're in Arcana. This is a hospital."

Safix' voice is deliberately soothing, pitched low to reassure.

Cynergy hears the movement of one, then stays totally still. So it's known she is awake. When Safix speaks to her she shows little sign of hearing, until her eyes open while her head falls to the side, one smooth simultaneous motion of suddenly bright green eyes fixing on Safix, but dizzily. Dark lashes fall and she blinks the light away, her tongue flashing out to wet her lips.

Safix smiles and keeps her hands in sight. "My name's Safix. Would you like some water?"

Cynergy keeps her eyes on Safix, and immediately does want the water, but knows better than to accept such, yet. Can you hear me too? Cautious, she tests. Trying to get up right away, she shifts to do so, awaiting a mental response.

Safix tilts her head curiously at the strange elf, waiting for a response... when none is immediately forthcoming, she keeps smiling. "You don't have to talk if you don't want to. I'll go ahead and get some water, if you don't mind; I'm a bit thirsty too." She does as stated, moving with the grace of a tired martial artist, obvious if one knows what to look for. Poor dear. I wonder if she feels about like I felt after I escaped.

Safix returns with water in two cups from the other side of the room, and walks into arm's reach with them. She holds one out a bit, and sips from the other one. "I know I'd be thirsty after so long asleep." I just hope she's not as crazy as I was after I escaped... ah, that's not a good thing to dwell on here and now.

Cynergy scowls then, that pouty downturn of her mouth and the deliberate knitting of her golden brows coming off as too childlike an expression for her to seen seriously displeased with Safix. So she's getting water. Far be it for her to argue. How long has it been, then? She's still testing to see if she's heard, but slowly comes to a seated position on her bed.

Safix tries not to tense visibly as the other woman sits upright. Elves don't /all/ bite... right? Easy there... She stands patiently and offers the water.

Safix never loses the calm, reassuring smile as she waits. "I think you've been under a magical sleep, from what the others said, but I'm not the magical sort, so I couldn't tell you much more. I hope it doesn't leave a hangover, though."

Cynergy is well aware of how the other woman feels. For this reason, the game of 'I'm less threatening than you are' begins. Cynergy's hand raises weakly and holds there, waiting to be handed the water. She doesn't seem steady enough to take a bite out of anything, but even Cynergy has surprised herself in desperate situations in the past. Chances the neogi have taken over Arcana...? Unlikely. But why am I...since when was there a hospital in Arcan... Oh. Spelled to sleep. Mmmm, feels like a fairly powerful enchantment... Kern, maybe. Kern...? Oh, but who... She looks over to the other beds, looking to see who else is about.

Safix hands Cynergy the water and decides she's probably fairly safe showing weakness. She leans a bit on the foot of the bed. "Would you mind if I sit too? I've had a rough week. Not like yours, but still fairly stressful."

Safix sips her own water and waits, swaying very slightly. Her green eyes look sincerely weary, if a little odd due to the thin band of red circling her pupils.

Cynergy sniffs imperceptibly at the water, then sips it barely. The last thing she needs is for her stomach to turn over on her and show she can't even keep down the simplest of fluids. Finally she speaks, her voice is small a little rougher than even she is prepared for, making her begin her response again, after clearing her throat and waving a hand airily. "Please sit..." There are tons of questions she has surely, but she holds them.

Safix grins fleetingly, the silence broken... A point for the short chick! ...and sits. "Thank you. So, like I said, I'm Safix. You can call me Saf if your voice is tired. Do you remember your name?"

Cynergy swallows again, more of the water. Suddenly she's wishing her head were under the faucet, so she could gulp. Probability of vomiting be damned, this water tastes divine to her. She doesn't know who I am, then..? "Vrinn." Her voice is so soft. "How long have I been asleep, Saf?"

Safix quite clearly has no idea who the other elf is, nor is particularly concerned about it; she's making conversation in an attempt to soothe the newly awakened and judge if she'll be all right to leave alone again. Her thoughts echo her motives, devoid of malice. "Vrinn. Nice to meet you... I think you may have been asleep for a day or so, but I'm not really sure. Things are a bit of a blur for me at this point, after so long awake tending the hurt and discussing... things." Like the disposition of the neogi prisoners, in which I have no say... I could feel sorry for them, with people like /that/ deciding their fate.

Safix' thoughts touch fleetingly on a feeling of disgust and a quick flash of faces-- Gala'maDred, a bright red-gold-haired woman with bluegreen glasses, and Rokhan most prominent.

Cynergy nods, coming to more and more, but not quite suitably aware, even by her own would-be standards. "Call me Cynergy." she doesn't know if she should ask, and doesn't at this point. She does immediately brighten at something, but that feeling is gone as quickly as it came, and her hand plants itself fast on her bed. "They shouldn't work you so hard.

Cynergy has steadied herself sufficiently, but still speaks a little breathlessly. "Are you my attending physician?"

Safix grins, tone self-mocking. "Oh, it's purely my fault. I volunteered. And since I don't have any pets, I'm getting out all those caretaking urges helping the hurt people." Your sense of humor is whacked, Saf. Get some sleep before you start dancing naked through the streets telling everybody your private life. She eyes Cynergy with worry. "No... I'm just a spare set of hands. I'm normally a metalsmith-" Not a whore, thank you, Dred... "-do you need a doctor?"

Cynergy can't help but have to work at hiding her amusement now. It's there, but faint. At Saf's last words she puts up her hand, "No, certainly not... no..." she runs her hand through her hair and frowns, then reaches a band on her flightsuit, frown deepening. she looks over to see her boots on the floor neatly in front of her bed. "Someone has my blades. A pity. They are in deplorable condition, why my dagger even has a pit in it. though I could not help that, it hit tooth..." she blinks, "I did not mean to ask you to repair them now, or even soon. It would be at your leisure, and only if... you so desired to repair my weapons."

Cynergy feels around for her various blades, concerned, feeling more naked without them than if she had been stripped of her suit and sitting before this stranger.

Safix looks delighted. "Oh, I make daggers! I expect I can help you with that, yes. I don't do as much of that as I work with silver for jewelry, but I'm fond of the work." Poor dear, I know how she feels, but I'm not about to lend her mine and leave her alone in a hospital before I know her better... even if I do have more than enough on me to share a little...

Cynergy smiles a little, finally. She's looking down, but to any it's clear she likes Saf, and her normally trusting heart that so gets her in trouble is starting to rule. "Jewelry.. it's been so long since I've worn any. I'm afraid I look positively.. silly in it." There's some tone that is behind her words, definitely more than she's saying. "Well, when you're feeling better I shall be bringing you my blades to have a new edge put on them. Supposing the neogi didn't get them. But if Gala'maDred knows I'm here then he would know to check for them, and were they missing, he should have known it." she's talking through her thoughts, making sense to her and logically working out things, sounding a little too sane.

Safix has a brief vision of dressing only in her various daggers... perhaps to dance with them... with a mental flavor that suggests it would be for the amusement of someone else, but dissolves quickly into mental giggles that briefly widen her smile and drive the rest of the thought out of her mind.

Safix tilts her head, good humor showing in her tone... "I'd consider it a fun challenge to find you something you wouldn't feel silly wearing, but that will have to wait 'til you're steadier. I'll happily show you around my workshop then, however, if you like. I'm sorry I don't know where your knives are..." She seems sweet, but... *sigh* no, Saf, they wouldn't like it if you gave the nice freshly-rescued-from-mindsucking-neogi lady a knife so she'll sleep better. Best wait and let Dammerung put her back to bed when she needs it.

Cynergy shakes her head, slightly surprised. She slips off the bed and her knees almost buckle, the cup going out of her hand on the bed as she grasps the side to right herself, "Damn, someone's taken my strength as well." Gritted teeth can't even keep back her self-disgust that comes too fast. This one loathes being helpless. the thoughts she can hear finally are answered, quite obviously, in her distraction with almost falling down on her ass with her first step. "I'll sleep fine, worry not. Daggers are only one line of defense. At this point, I couldn't give the lady who couldn't stand on her own legs a blade either." Steady... she's trying to stay up, but realizes her arms are mostly holding her up.

The smaller elf runs a hand through her shaggy white hair as she debates. On the other hand, they /did/ say Dammerung can sense and immobilize the violent... right? Ah, hell, why not? Nobody else has to know...ack! Saf grabs Cynergy carefully but quickly. She's little but strong enough to help the other woman back onto the bed. "Careful! You've had a rough time. You don't need to go anywhere yet."

Cynergy sits again, sighing, waving a hand, "I want to go home, but more immediately, I wanted more water. Was it so rough? I'm looking better than most of them." she looks around, plainly upset that others are worse off than she. "I was only going for more water. I suppose it's not a great idea to drink so much so soon anyway."

Safix makes a snap decision and takes a slim, stiletto-like dagger out of her left boot. She fishes a little and retrieves a plain black leather sheath for it as well, slips them together and offers it hilt-first. "Just don't mention it to anybody for awhile, ok? I... know what it's like, to feel..." helpless, alone, afraid, defenseless... "better with something sharp to hand. And yeah, it was pretty rough, from what I hear-- I stayed on the ground. Hang on, I'll fetch water. Better folk than me have played barmaid." She winks and rises stiffly to walk off with the cup.

Safix returns with a full cup of water for you, and chuckles. "Actually, it's probably good for you to replace fluids. I feel like crap after stress" sex, or flying... "--if I don't drink a lot."

Cynergy blinks, her jaw actually having dropped. As Saf walks away she has taken the dagger and set the sheath on the bed, idly playing it, spinning it in her fingers to get to know it. It stops, she slides a fingertip gently along the edge to feel its sharpness without cutting herself. "rough..." she muses, gratefully taking the cup. "Thank you, again." she pauses, "Thank you for taking care of me." Careful not to gulp it down still she sips, and just holds the knife, fingers feeling the grip.

Cynergy leans back on her bed, sitting up a little, hair falling around her in more of a mess. Someone has bothered to comb it out for her since she's been returned, but she has yet to notice. Cradling the knife in her hand and forearm like she intends to study it more she sips a few more times and then sets the cup on a table by the bed, then slips just her feet back under the folded blankets at the foot of her bed.

Safix smiles, pleased. "You're welcome. Hell, somebody has to be nice around here, it's just my shift today, or something." She yawns. "Damn, I'm beat." Ridden hard and put away sweaty, is that the expression? Damn shame it isn't accurate, I could've used the stress relief... "I think I might take advantage of Dammerung's hospitality tonight, so to speak. There are enough spare beds. If you guys can stand the company of a not-so-wounded person, of course." She giggles tiredly.

Safix tilts her head as she gets up to find a bed nearby and curls up on her side. "You might consider more of that sleep thing yourself. I promise Arcana will still be here when you wake."

Cynergy does that little hand wave of hers, shaking her head against the pillow, "Might be here, but nothing is the same." she looks over at Saf, and then down at the knife, which is simply slid under the pillow, her hand around it. "Thank you again for taking care of me." Long moments pass as she tries to fight the urge to drop off and succumb to sleep, but eventually, she looses, and her breathing evens out, her body going utterly limp.

Safix keeps her eyes open long enough to watch Cynergy go under again, but lets them slide gratefully shut immediately after. Dammerung, keep watch. I think she's ok, but don't make me a liar, y'hear? I'd never hear the end of it if I gave a nice-seeming psycho a knife and got slaughtered in my sleep... wait, that doesn't make any sen... And Saf falls deeply asleep.



(OOC) Tue Apr 3 1901 07:54 PM by "Dakini" at "Dawnstar Living Room" (OOC)

    Inner Dawnstar
    You stand in an airy, spacious room, which nevertheless manages to feel almost cozy. This might be due to the multiple, slightly irregular rows of waist-high protrusions from the floor -- obviously restful beds for the injured. The room is comfortably warm and smells pleasantly neutral -- a kindness for those who find strong scents painful. Niches in the wall by each bed hold neatly rolled bandages, a glass of water, and other useful and applicable tools of the nursing trade. Glow bulbs light the room well, gleaming in regular rows along the ribs of the room, which arch gracefully up to meet high above, somehow muting distant sound to nothing more than a soft murmur. While it's not immediately obvious, the room is tidily warded against technical, magical, or psionic intrusion, along with several other types of less-common protections.

    Wrapped in the dusty trappings of a vagrant, this drifter holds himself with an unassuming air and a reserved posture, despite his six feet of height. His boots are dirty; the leather battered, the soles worn. His tunic has lost its sleeves, ragged and faded gray with age, use, and the dust of the highway, tucked into loose black breeches held by a simple, wide sash, knotted at the side. A dark gray traveling cloak falls over his narrow shoulders, and his gaunt arms are covered with tattered wrappings that partially cover his long fingers. What the frayed cloth does to hide his reedy frame, it cannot do for his other features; his skin is smooth and a pale yellow hue, his eyes long, almond-shaped, liquid and black. Dark rosette spots splash across his cheekbones and trail back across his temples, toward the narrow slash of straight black hair tied tightly back atop his head. His ears point delicately, tapering to fine serration at the back. Quietly, he draws his cloak more closely around himself and adjusts his hood, withdrawn and somehow weary-seeming.

    The figure who's features have been caught by a glance appears to be that of an elf. From the high cheek bones beneath sun-kissed flesh, the pointed ears which pushes up through the golden mane of hair that washes in locks down to shoulders, and the slender physique of most elven kind suggests nothing but. Angled, yet handsome features lead the male's face. Wispy bangs drift over a pair of glasses over the elf's face. Though, the lenses are of a black tint, seeming to be crafted of pure obsidian, so much that one can not see through the other side. This might suggest that the figure's eyes are not for viewing, either from an onlooker's perception, or for seeing all together. The visage most commonly seen on the elf is a slight stoic, blank expression, though a smile is not uncommon to touch his lips. From the soles of his feet to the top of his head, the elf stands five foot, three inches, with his face framed by a hood of a sable shaded wool cloak, thick for the wintry weather, and the wisps of blonde hair beneath the shade of the hood. Held tight around his neck by a tied cord, the cloak flows down to cover his form. Though, with an arm usually held out, clutching a cane of well-crafted wood, and the elf's movements cause the flap to open, revealing the body beneath. A tunic of earthen brown stretches across the slender but healthy torso. The tunic ends at upper thighs, overlapping breeches of dense cloth, colored a slate charcoal. His cloak ends to brush along the tops of dark brown leather boots.

    Keesha is a bat. She is relatively short, standing - or more often hanging - a little under 5 feet tall on clawed feet, including her oversized and elaborately ridged ears. Her grin shows a mouthful of extremely sharp teeth in a pointed muzzle, and a twinkle dances in her large-pupiled eyes. She is covered in fine dark brown fur, almost downy on her wings, and somewhat coarser in a cowlick between her ears...her headfur is cut short to stay out of her way in flight. Keesha's arms are integral to her wings, supporting them on jointed bone spurs that extend from her elbows and wrists. Her hands fold back along the wings in flight...on the ground, her wings fold up, letting her use her hands with only a little loss of dexterity. She wears a rather low-slung pair of shorts and a tunic split up the sides to accommodate her wing membranes. Both are in the same dark brown as her fur, and she blends easily into the shadows. A pendant, a reddish teardrop of amber set on a detailed leaf of green metal with gold veining, is held tightly to her neck, a pouch is strapped to her left leg and a sheathed dagger is on her right thigh.

    Safix stands a shade under 5 feet tall. Her clean skin is deep golden, against which her arched white eyebrows and thick lashes stand in sharp contrast. Her shaggy white hair falls manelike around her face to touch her shoulders at the longest points, and the sides are tucked behind her delicately pointed ears, revealing three small, slim silver rings piercing the lower part of each, and a fourth ring at each tip. Green eyes with a narrow circle of red around each pupil look back at you from her triangular, sharp-featured face. She's wearing a dark red tunic today, loosely belted with black cloth, over tight black pants tucked into black leather boots laced to the knee. A simple band of silver chainmail circles her throat.

    You see before you a human male in his mid-twenties. He appears to be moderately attractive, with his jet-black hair worn long in the back and cropped close, his piercing green eyes, and chiseled facial features. His lips seem to naturally turn up into a smile as he returns your gaze unblinkingly. His body well toned under his garments, though favoring a wiry build over larger muscles. He is currently wearing a fine suit of elven chainmail, reaching down to his ankles on the bottom, and his elbows on the top. Over that, he wears a golden long-tunic emblazoned with a multi-colored vortex. He has a black leather belt cinching the tunic, adorned with several belt pouches, a long sword in its scabbard, and what looks to be a speed-holster for an ebony wand. He stands comfortably in red leather high boots, and golden bracers protecting his wrists. Last to catch your eye is the new ring which sits on his left middle finger: a silver band set with a rogue stone, denoted by its chaotic swirling colors. It seems to glisten in the light as your eyes move back to his face, and he nods, murmuring a quiet 'well met' to you.

    Layers of melted gold, her hair falls in soft curls to her waist, reflecting with metallic shine. Steady emerald eyes glitter with iridescent flecks; thick black lashes sweep down occasionally to brush porcelain skin. Her soft, wide mouth betrays no expression. Her bone structure is delicate, cheekbones high, not sharp as most elven females. Cynergy's body is a 5'2" promise of strength and grace. Long, lean muscles show perfect fitness, revealed by the unforgiving nature of her EIN flightsuit. Wide straps encase her from neck to kneecaps, binding tightly across every part of her. Her tummy is flat and broad within soft black leather and snow-white elastic, her waist small compared to the flair of hips. Tall boots are polished to a regulation dull glow. The overall effect accentuates her diminutive size. A patch that weaves between some of the straps above her left breast displays Captain's rankbars, EIN symbol, Oloth fleet, and her ship. "Vrinn" is scripted in gold thread beneath it all.

    Dakini grins lazily at you from behind the reflective blue-green shades which hide her eyes. Her hair is long and tousled, a bright, red-gold mane that occasionally hides her small pointed ears. She's a tall, slender, strong woman, with small but callused hands, and well-muscled forearms. She wears a soft, comfortably loose, ivory silk shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Over that is a sturdy, quilted, sleeveless tunic of dark indigo blue embroidered with intertwined silvery stars and ivory-gold unicorns. It is belted off snugly with a wide, well-worn leather belt. On her right hip, tied down about the right thigh, rides a holstered flechette pistol. On her left hangs a decorated and runically embossed scabbard with the plain, worn-leather-and-wire wrapped pommel of a short sword protruding from it. Sturdy, worn dueling gloves are tucked into the back of the belt, mostly hiding a cross-holstered dagger. Slung over one shoulder is her battered, padded leather airwoman's jacket, heavily decorated on the back with a rabidly snarling, eight-limbed, winged beast, and numerous other colorful decorations on shoulders, arms, and front. Her long legs are fitted with snug breeches, and her knee-high, well-used black leather boots and jacket smell pleasingly of years of quality leather care.

The small group of Kern, Harlequin, and Dakini do their best to tiptoe quietly and demurely through the hospital, where many folks, including Safix and Cynergy, are trying to sleep.

Kern seems to be blushing furiously about something, but he says nothing yet, as he's afraid of waking people up.

Dakini is grinning mischievously, and has her shades back on... although she politely doesn't look at Kern, so he has some privacy to recover.

Safix wakes with a start, in an unfamiliar place with people--! She sits bolt upright in bed and has daggers out before waking up enough to blush sheepishly.

Dryx glides in silently, following the sound of people at large in Dammerung. He finds himself surprised at where he ends up... then again, he doesn't quite understand the layout, he reminds himself.

Dakini grins at Safix, holding a finger up to her lips in a shushing motion, and whispers, "Want some tea? Come along if so."

Kern blinks, the sudden movement making him lunge for a battle wand....and then he relaxes as he sees it's only Safix.

Safix puts her knives away and yawns, still blushing faintly. "Uh, hi... ok... but wait a sec."

Cynergy lies on her side, sleeping, tension evident in her features even as she sleeps. one hand is tucked under the pillow under her head, only her feet lying under the folded blanket at the foot of her bed. Safix will remember that is the exact position in which she last saw Cynergy lie down last night.

Dakini glances between Safix' blush and Kern's, and grins again to herself...

Keesha flits in, quiet if not as silent as her smaller brethren, nodding to Dakini and Kern as she checks to see how the rescued slaves and EIN sailors are doing.

Xarlen remains quiet, leaning himself against a wall. With the almost unchanged expression and stillness, one might mistake him for a well done sculpture.

Safix gets silently out of bed and walks catfooted over to Dakini. She whispers, "One of our elves woke last night... I think she might like some tea too? She was very unhappy at not being able to go far when she woke."

Kern is rather *impressively* quiet as he's wearing armor...

Dakini looks a bit surprised, "Why couldn't she go far? Dammerung wouldn't have... ohh... is she all right?"

Safix says quietly, "She's very weak still. I think a little movement and tea would do wonders, though."

Dakini nods, "That'd be fine then... she's welcome. Who is it?"

Safix adds more quietly, just to Dakini, "And I don't want her to wake and think she's alone, when I was here when she went to sleep. Oh, her name's Vrinn. Uh, and Cynergy. Not sure which of those is a surname."

Dakini smiles, "Vrinn's the surname... she'll be the sister of Sylune, and the governor's daughter..." she looks faintly puzzled, "Although... maybe she was adopted?"

Kern blinks. "Cyn?" he whispers, looking around for her....moving to her side as he spots her.

Dakini glances up, "Er, Kern... don't startle her as you wake her, please?"

Safix nods and walks quietly over to Cynergy's bed, staying out of arm's reach. "Cynergy?" she murmurs soothingly. "Want to wake up?"

Kern nods, looking to see if Cynergy rouses.

Safix says a bit sheepishly to Kern, "You might want to keep back, I gave her a dagger so she'd sleep better, and she might wake... disoriented."

Dakini raises an amused eyebrow at Safix, then mutters something under her breath about weird teddy bears... then just grins.

Kern blinks, confused. "A dagger makes her sleep better? What, does she rest her head on it?"

Cynergy opens her eyes, but they're unfocused. She sees people around her bed and her gaze doesn't focus, but narrows instinctively. Her hand comes out from the pillow holding a small dagger that quite obviously wasn't in per possession up until last night. She unknowingly tears the sheet on the bed with the blade and then her grip slackens, seeing Kern is among them... she blinks, "No... dreaming."

Safix says a tiny bit snottily to Kern, "It's a girl thing, you wouldn't understand." She grins.

Dakini rolls her eyes... and the sheet mends itself.

Safix waves a hand slowly at Cynergy. "Cyn? Remember Saf? I'm here too. We're friends."

Safix adds in yet more soothing tones, "You're safe here, Cyn."

Kern smiles at Cynergy. "I quite assure you, Captain, I'm not a dream. Welcome back to the land of the living."

Kern offers Cynergy a hand.

Dakini turns towards Keesha, Dryx, and Harlequin, "Would you all care to join us for tea?"

Keesha nods. "Don't see why not. We need to do a debrief anyway."

Dakini says firmly, "Not now, please, Keesha."

Cynergy closes her eyes again, but then they open, a second time. Not a dream if she recognizes Safix. And then last night wasn't a dream either. She look at Kern and Saf, then the others, and takes Kern's hand, "I didn't die." she's a touch defensive.

Safix shoots a quick glance to Dakini, grinning. She says under her breath, directed toward the taller woman who she suspects will hear just fine, "Oh, even I've had weirder teddy bears, I'm sure."

Kern helps Cynergy up. "No, but you did scare us, my dear. "

Dakini says gently to Cynergy over the heads of the others, "Why don't you join us for tea?"

Dakini grins at Saf lazily, just shaking her head amusedly.

Kern squeezes Cynergy's hand. "Welcome home, Cyn. You've been missed."

Safix blushes and mutters to Dakini, "I meant, like swords or something."

Dakini grins even more widely, but just inquires sweetly, "Did I say anything?"

Cynergy looks over at Dakini, whom she knows not at all, and nods, just holding Kern's hand, then reaching up with her free hand after dropping the dagger, and running it through her curls. She looks at Kern and nods, taking him in. "Missed you too. You look good."

Keesha chirrips softly at the by-plays. "You didn't have to."

Xarlen tips his head a moment, then, as if remembering something, 'Unfortunately, I cannot, lady Stardancer."

Kern chuckles. "Dapper new threads, hmm? Come, have some soothing tea with us, Cyn."

Dakini winks cheerfully at Keesha, "Isn't it grand how that works?" then nods to Harlequin, and will wave everyone on through the open doorway to her living room -- at least everyone that wants to join the tea party. On the central table is a large silver platter with a tea set and many cups.

Steam rises gently from the silver teapot.

Safix turns a darker shade and tries to ignore her friends' comments. She smiles reassuringly at Cynergy and says, "Yes, please join us? You'll feel better for it."

Xarlen heads through the smooth, round doorway downwards into Dawnstar's foyer.

Dakini settles comfortably on a couch, booted feet crossed at the ankle, and waits until Cynergy's been seated before she smiles and nods to the woman, "Welcome to Dammerung. I hight Dakini Stardancer zu Dammerung... I don't know who else you've not yet met, but I presume you're Captain Cynergy Vrinn? How did that come to be, if I may ask?"

Safix curls up on a couch and listens, curious.

Dryx takes up a place off to one side, having no real corners to work with in this place, and leans lightly against one wall, folding his arms.

Cynergy nods, reaching out to touch the edge of Kern's chainmail, then looking up at Safix, nodding again. She only catches sight of Xarlen as he departs, but looks to Keesha.... becoming a little overwhelmed by all she doesn't know. With trouble she walks, leaning on Kern more than a little, her legs unsteady. Becoming seated again gives her some relief. Dakini has her total attention, and Cyn studies only her for a moment...

Keesha nods to the elf. "Keesha Ski'irish, mistress of the Chirikh and late of the Federation Navy and Skyhome Defense Forces."

Cynergy licks her lips once, wetting them to speak, "I am Captain Cynergy Vrinn." she confirms softly. Thrown a bit by Dakini's next question, she frowns, "How did I come to be a Captain?"

Kern readily aids Cynergy's steps, attentive to her weakened state..."They're all friends," Kern assures Cynergy in an undertone.

Dakini smiles, "No, how did you come to be a Vrinn? Are you indeed Sylune's blood sister? Or adoptive?"

Cynergy looks over to Keesha, trying to take it all in.

Safix eyes the tea hopefully, then the hostess.

Keesha grins at Cynergy's puzzlement, showing what is probably an alarming set of teeth. "An exile from the other side of the Rift."

Dakini grins at Safix, "Go ahead, please -- pour! I think there're some tea biscuits too..." She rises, wandering over to the kitchenette area, searching.

Cynergy raises a brow at the question Dakini asks her, then to Kern, then back to Dakini. "I don't quite know how to explain it. I am not a blood relation of the Vrinns. Za.. the Governor changed my name, some years ago. I consider Sylune my sister, Alois my brother, and the Governor... we have quite the history." So she is discreet, but this explains her ties well enough she supposes.

Safix grins faintly and begins to serve tea to those who don't gesture it away, with a rather practiced and elegant style.

"Okay..." floats up from behind the kitchenette counter, followed by, "Ah! Hope you guys like lemon crisps..." Dakini returns a moment later with a silver plate of light cookies, which she sets on the table, "There we go. Thank you, Safix." She adds 2 lumps of sugar and generous cream to hers, then sighs contentedly, "Mmmm..."

Safix misses a beat in her movements when Cynergy states her familial ties of affection, but covers fairly well.

Dakini inhales the scent of tea contentedly, then smiles teasingly over the cup's rim at Dryx and Kern, "Cat got your tongue?"

Kern helps Cynergy to a comfortable couch and then goes and procures tea for her from Safix. "Here you are, Cyn." he says coaxingly.

Kern rolls his eyes at Dakini. "Just trying to be the gentleman.. help Cynergy get situated..."

Keesha's spoon takes a dollop of honey and stirs it into her tea, apparently by itself. The bat grins as the cup floats up to her winghand. "Don't see the cat here tonight."

Safix finishes serving and returns to her original couch seat near Cynergy, leaning back and sipping tea to cover a faintly worried look.

Safix blinks and smiles at Keesha. "Magic lessons going well, I take it?"

Dryx straightens up from the wall, and carefully picks up a cookie. He nods politely to Dakini, and moves back to his spot out to the side. "Just watching."

Dakini chuckles softly at Kern, "That you are, indeed."

Cynergy nods to Kern and accepts the cup with a grace she wills to use in these moments. Her back straightens a little, and she nods her thanks to Kern, looking at him again. He's the only one she's seen so far since her return, that she knew well. But there's much more to look at. She quietly studies Dryx as others speak.

Dakini smiles ruefully at Keesha, "Nor shall she any time soon... I value my peace and quiet."

Kern takes his cup of tea and a lemon square and sits to one side, sipping the warm tea.

Keesha smiles at Safix. "Yep. This is a minor perk."

Kern smiles at Cynergy fondly, comfortingly, though worried that there might be something wrong beyond Cynergy's physical weakness...

Dakini looks around the group curiously, then smiles at Cynergy, "So... how do you feel? Do you want to talk about it at all?"

Dryx meets Cynergy's eyes for a moment, then inclines his head, deepening the folds of his hood to obscure his features. This may be more out of a desire to cover up his furtive munching on the lemon crisp than anything else, though.

Safix grins a little conspiratorially at Keesha. "Floating things is fun, isn't it? I almost don't mind that I can't fly a ship after all."

Safix looks encouragingly at Cynergy.

Keesha grins back. "I can even do this if I concentrate..." She turns the cup upside down and sips at it like a normal upright person, the tea staying at the bottom of the cup in its inverted position.

Cynergy nods once to Dryx in return, finally pulling her intense gaze from him. She can't figure out what he is yet, and that bothers her. Turning to look at Dakini, she shakes her head, "I'm quite fine. I worry for my crew, and of course, wonder when we're leaving again. To say that I am.. sorry that the mission was such a grave and obvious failure is an understatement."

Kern rolls his eyes. "I teach her magic, and she uses it for parlor tricks.

Safix tries not to let her eyes cross. "Ok, Keesh, that's just weird. Upside-down drink... nnngh."

Dakini says, "Ummm..." She glances at Kern, wondering if Cynergy knows exactly what happened yet, or even if her crew or ship are still extant, "Kern... perhaps you could answer that?"

Safix looks at Cynergy, surprised. "Leaving again? Don't you get any vacation time, to rest?"

Keesha chirrips and goes back to lapping from a right-side up cup. "It's a good trick to work on control, though. I'm not used to drinking that way, though. Seems unnatural, somehow."

Kern blinks at Cynergy. "Cyn...what's the last thing you remember, exactly?"

Safix just rolls her eyes at Keesha, grinning.

Dakini grins at Keesha, shaking her head amusedly at the silly batty.

Safix gives Cynergy a slightly worried look, hoping that Kern's question won't lead to bad flashbacks...

Keesha frowns at Cynergy, but doesn't voice her thoughts. She doesn't know what happened to her ship, obviously.

Cynergy shrugs lightly, about to answer, but the psionic elf hears those thoughts loud and clear. Her eyes slide to Keesha and she tenses, "What happened to my ship?" Her tone is controlled, not angry, just stunned a little.

Kern blinks. "You don't remember?"

Kern's worry intensifies.

Dakini murmurs, "Kern, to wait is to tease her. Tell her what happened."

Keesha blinks. I didn't say that out loud. Bozhemoi....

Kern shrugs. "I don't *know* what happened? Rennyn is still recovering, and Sylune was escorted off by Dred and I haven't been able to talk to her...I have no idea why the Sunstar was the only ship to return to the sphere..."

Keesha skrees, "It is going to require a great deal of repair work, I'm afraid."

Cynergy turns to Keesha, giving her an acknowledgement, but then looking at Dakini and Kern.

Keesha turns to look at Kern. "Wait.. she wasn't part of Sunstar's crew?"

Dakini hms? at Cynergy. Her thoughts, like her eyes, are shielded... politely, but effectively.

Cynergy scowls, getting nothing from Dryx or Dakini, answering Keesha herself, "No, I was not a part of it's crew. What happened to my ship?" she looks then to Kern, and finally Safix, one who's she's never failed to hear thoughts from.

Kern shakes his head. "No...the Sunstar wasn't her ship...she had her own, and so did Sylune. I can only assume that both ships were destroyed..."

Safix' worry for Cynergy is briefly eclipsed by guilty relief... Keesha didn't say anything... Cyn hears thoughts? Oh shit, she was awake when they were teasing me about Al- no, no, she was distracted, I'm sure of it, she just woke up and thought she was dreaming... she doesn't know...

Dakini gives Kern a faintly perplexed look, then says, "Perhaps we should give her what facts we have." Gently, to Cynergy, she says, "The only ship to return was the Sunstar, I fear. It's been damaged almost beyond repair. Do you remember the neogi at all?"

Dakini blinks slowly, then says, "Excuse me... Cynergy, Dammerung informs me you're scanning telepathically. If you're going to read people here, may I ask that you tell them that you intend to do so... so they can politely ask you not to if they do not wish it?"

Safix just waits, bereft of facts to give Cynergy about her ship's fate, since Saf was strictly on the ground crew and they had their own problems...

Cynergy is staring at Safix, and raises a brow. This would amuse her normally, but... she looks to Dakini, taking it all in. "Indeed I remember them. I and some others were considering a plan to infiltrate. I had my mind wrapped around one of the weaker ones for the better part of a day... sick little things, neogi."

Dakini blinks in shock at Cynergy, "... infiltrate... neogi..." She finally just shakes her head in astonishment.

Cynergy nods to Dakini, "My apologies. I thought it was well known I... hm. I'm sorry. Most of you don't know me. I meant not to offend."

Kern looks confused. "But you don't remember what happened to your ship? If it was destroyed in the war?

Cynergy scoffs, looking at Kern, "It would not have been destroyed. Do you really mean to tell me that I'm not on my ship, but it's not in the dock?"

Dakini nods quietly to Cynergy, then murmurs quietly to the others in the room, "It might be polite to inform Cynergy as to your feelings in regards to being psionically scanned..."

Safix looks intrigued at the thought of someone controlling neogi... Maybe she could find out if any of them are decent folk, and they wouldn't kill them out of hand after all!

Dakini murmurs quietly to Cynergy, "Kern speaks the truth."

Keesha skrees, "You were taken off a Neogi deathspider ship, Captain. You'd been a prisoner, and psionically sedated."

Kern shakes his head at Cynergy. "You left with Rennyn and Sylune to return to Toril in force to fight the scro. When you returned, fleeing the neogi, it was on one ship, the Sunstar. And that has been demolished."

Dakini gives Kern a curious glance, "What are the scro?"

Safix blinks, hears Dakini, and turns as beet-red as someone that dark a golden can. Ah... Cynergy? Look at me if you hear this?

Kern glances at Dakini. "Think of them as stellar orcs."

Dakini nods to Kern thoughtfully, then goes back to her tea.

Cynergy alas, is actually trying not to hear anyone's thoughts now, since Dakini's reprimand. She's looks at Safix though, not because she's listening, but because she's looking for answers on anyone's face. Everyone gets a nice look of disbelieve, then Cynergy breaks into a harsh laugh. "Oh... this is a good one. Who's behind this, Alois?" she grins slowly. "No, it's Gala'maDred, he'd have a good laugh over this..."

Dakini studies Cynergy quietly, and with some sympathy... but leaves her in peace to realize they're telling her the truth.

Safix blinks at Cynergy, a bit dismayed. She stops herself from reaching out to comfort... "Cynergy... it's true. Go ahead, look at my thoughts if you want to be sure."

Kern says, "Cyn, I assure you, we're not kidding. I don't know what happened to your ship, but it's not here now. You returned with Rennyn, Sylune, and a handful of crewmembers."

Cynergy is grinning now seeming full of life and color. She's shaking her head, but Dakini's look freezes her. Those dancing green eyes go right to Safix without a moment's hesitation... searching.

Dakini murmurs very quietly, "I'm sorry, Cynergy."

Safix' mind is innocently open, and believes firmly in what everyone has been saying about Cyn's destroyed ship, crew, and the battle.

Safix' eyes widen and she looks a bit uncomfortable, but continues to meet Cynergy's gaze.

Dakini glances between Cynergy and the more uncomfortable looking Safix, and says more clearly, "Cynergy... be careful, please..."

Cynergy looks down away from Safix, then hearing Kern, then hearing Dakini. She swallows, and when she speaks her voice is so much softer, so much more guarded. "Sylune and Rennyn, they're alright?"

Dakini looks relieved, and nods, "Ja. They are fine. Recovering, but fine."

Kern nods. "They're just fine. I healed them best I could, you too. But it's taken longer for you and Rennyn to recover from the neogi mental conditioning."

Cynergy looks up at Kern, hurt. Clearly hurt. "they didn't do anything to my mind!"

Dakini says quietly, "They put you psionically asleep for a while, at the very least."

Keesha skrees, "Da. One of the strong ones may have noticed you holding the weak one, perhaps?"

Kern nods to Cyn in affirmation of Dakini's words. "She woke you up, Cyn."

Dakini nods slowly, glancing at Kern, "Oddly enough, that might be reason to still hold out hope for her ship, Kern. She doesn't remember... that's significant."

Kern says, "True, but then one might wonder why she didn't return with it...one wonders why she and Rennyn and all returned in the first place. I wasn't aware the war was over..."

Dakini says, "Well, didn't she say she was thinking of infiltrating? What if she did... and that's why her ship isn't around -- the neogi took her but couldn't grab the ship?"

Kern sighs. "Too many gaps. I hope Rennyn wakes up soon."

Cynergy sets down her teacup, breathing in and out too steadily. She's making herself breath this way. Her head drops a bit, hair shielding her face a little.

Dakini sighs softly, setting down her teacup and rising to walk over to Cynergy. She settles slowly and carefully next to the shaken elf woman, gently placing a hand on her back, "Cynergy... you're among friends. You're safe. For now, that's all that's important... that, and healing."

Kern nodnodnods. "Everything's going to be o-k, Cyn. We'll deal with the past in good time. Just relax and let us take care of you."

Safix would be thinking more reassuring thoughts, but she's still rather dazed by the feeling of having someone else's mind... touching hers... looking...

Safix' head jerks up a little bit, her eyes slightly wild but getting calmer as she turns to Dakini...

Dakini gives Safix a slightly worried glance, raising one inquiring eyebrow.

Cynergy allows the touch, but barely. Her words are quite obviously forced and completely said with polite intent, that much is obvious. She's trying very, very hard to be calm, but to let Dakini know how things really are. "Dakini Stardancer zu Dammerung, I might be among friends, all of whom are new to me save one, and I may be safe, but to me, my professional oath means more. My crew is missing, my ship possibly destroyed, and yet I have not met the same fate as each under my -personal- care. This is what matters. That I sit here now sipping tea and trying not to vomit in front of virtual strangers and on a very fine floor is... laughable, considering my obvious and damning failure."

Dryx makes a soft noise. It sounds like quietly rasping laughter.

Keesha skrees, "It's not obvious yet and it's hardly damning. You may have sacrificed yourself to let your ship and crew escape, you know."

Keesha twitches a wing in the elf's direction. "Granted, we do need to find out what happened as soon as possible."

Dakini sighs softly, putting her hands in her lap, and is silent for a long moment. Finally she says slowly, "Your... professional dedication is admirable, Cynergy... but in order to discover what precisely has happened, you must heal first."

Safix says quietly, very tentatively, "Yes... You need to be fit in order to help anyone else."

Kern's face darkens. "Cynergy, while it is said that the captain should go down with her ship, you should not look on your survival as a failure. Whether or not your ship has perished."

Dakini nods quietly, "Keesha's point is an excellent one." She rises, and moves back to her own couch, settling comfortably and picking her teacup back up.

Kern says, "And if it did, well...then the Seldarine must have something else in mind for you, that they willed it that you survive the death of your crew and your ship."

Dakini frowns, looking quite displeased... but she just sips her tea quietly.

Cynergy steels herself not to look up at Dryx. Yes, she thinks it's possible he's laughing at her. will she mention it? Not now. She's far too composed to fly off the handle. Beyond that... It doesn't matter. She's right. I've got to get out of here and back up there. Oloth is the last place I need to be right now. Maybe they've still got my flitter in the docks, and I'll have this all cleared up... Still looking down she nods as each one reacts to her response. When Kern speaks his last, she only licks her lips thoughtfully, trying to retain her calm. Several deep breaths, and then a question to anyone in the room who would know, "What must heal, what is wrong with me?"

Safix shivers slightly, curled on the couch staring into her tea.

Kern says, "Your memory for one, if you do not remember the sequence of events that brought you here."

Kern says, "Beyond that.... Your injuries are healed, but you still seem to be weak. We should work on that...get you out and about again."

Keesha skrees, "Recover properly instead of wearing yourself out again. Whatever happened, a few days will not matter."

Safix keeps staring forlornly into her tea.

Cynergy nods, still not wanting to look at anyone. Kern is right though. a few days is nothing, or so she hopes with all her heart. "So I'm allowed to leave, then, and go about?"

Dakini looks up and says quietly, "I must go, I fear. You are all welcome to stay as long as you like. Please make yourselves comfortable, although I would recommend for healing that you sleep in the hospital, as that area is most suited for it, within Dammerung." She looks at Safix and says quietly and firmly, "I keep my promises, Safix'ya. You are not abandoned."

Kern nods. "I don't see why not. You should visit with Sylune. She might be able to tell you what happened."

Dakini sets her teacup down, rising smoothly. She nods politely to everyone, then leaves quietly.

Safix nods belatedly to Dakini, looking up from her cool teacup.

Safix says shyly, awkwardly to Cynergy, "There are rooms here if you need a place to stay... I can show you where. Or you can borrow the one I keep here, it's already got bedding and some decoration and stuff."

Safix does not meet Cynergy's eyes.

Cynergy swallows, shaking her head, looking ashamed all over again, "Thank you but... I'll be fine, I wouldn't allow you to give up your quarters for me."

Cynergy sips at her very cold tea, knowing the fluids will help her. She can't help but look up at Dryx, wondering about him.

Safix blinks and smiles, looking better. She glances briefly up at Cynergy. "Oh, my room here isn't used much. My real home is over my shop, right across the street from the, um, Wandering Path."

Safix coughs, and adds, "I sleep there. I haven't slept here for weeks, until last night in the hospital."

Dryx keeps his cloak closed about him, his shaded eyes directionless, the whites sliver-thin, too thin to give away their direction.

Cynergy is confused this time by Safix, "But that's where Dragonflight Bows was... where is Gala'maDred setting up shop now?"

Kern sighs as his ring pulses. "What horrible timing." He stands and walks over to Cynergy, taking her hand firmly. "I have to leave for now...guild business. I'll be back as soon as I can...if you need me, go to the new Guild tower just north of here and ask one of the fellows in the Foyer. They'll tell you where to find me."

Cynergy nods, looking a little surprised at Kern, but holds to his hand tight. Eventually she lets go, knowing he does have to leave.

Safix blinks at Cynergy, "Oh, is that his? It's right next door. We're all in that part of town."

Safix forces a laugh, "I think my shop was something less savory before I moved in. I'm pretty much a newcomer, only been around here for months."

Kern smiles kindly at Cynergy. "Trust me, I don't want to leave, even though you're in good hands with Safix.. but the Guild has been relying more on me and my fellow knights since the departure of the EIF...but we'll talk about that later." He fondly kisses Cynergy's hand and then leaves.

Cynergy watches Kern go, and looks over to Keesha, then Dryx, not sure how to begin, really. It's clear she wants to know more about them, just, isn't eloquent at the moment, with so much on her mind.

Dryx folds his arms, shifting his cloak a bit, and looks away, eyes closed.

Cynergy raises a brow, looking right at Dryx, clearly thinking a ton of things.

Dryx opens one eye, at last breaking the silence with his deep half-whisper. "Is there something you want to ask me?"

Cynergy sounds normal again, suddenly. "Only about a million things, but I fear that would be glaringly rude of me. I doubt you would.. welcome my curiosity, in any case."

Dryx closes his eye again. "Maybe you should start slowly," is all he offers in reply.

Keesha spreads her wings and drops from her perch on the ceiling, turning in midair to land lightly on her clawed feet. "I have a ship to tend to. Captain Vrinn, you're welcome to stop by and visit me any time when you're up to walking down to the docks." She steps through the door into the corridor, and the soft flapping of her wings can be heard before it shuts again.

Cynergy seems a little surprised by the answer, and turns to look at Keesha, only able to nod once she departs.

Keesha heads through the smooth, round doorway downwards into Dawnstar's foyer.

Cynergy takes another sip of cold tea. Apparently she doesn't mind it, which says something for her obvious love of tea. Down goes the cup, gently again, in a saucer if one was given, in near silence. Dryx gets her scrutiny again, "You have me at a disadvantage. Pray tell me your name?"

Dryx turns his head slightly, just enough to face the person whom he's addressing. "Dryx. My name is Dryx."

Safix stays quietly curled in her corner of the couch, listening as unobtrusively as possible.

Cynergy nods, looking down, wondering if she should ask more of the questions, if she could ask more of the question, as if this were all normal. More than a few times it occurs to her she just wants to put her head in her hands and sob, though this is in her thoughts, if one is reading them, and her posture and visage display none of this despair and self-loathing. So softly, "what is it that you do, Dryx?"

Dryx reaches up, freeing a hand from his cloak, and brushes something back from his eyes in the folds of his hood. The movement exposes a narrow segment of his face, enough to expose a small, thin smile. "I'm a drifter, Captain. I travel."

Cynergy stays still at the sight of the smile, she seems to have not thought it possible of him. "Oh. then we do the same thing." In a manner of speaking, anyway.

Dryx hms softly. "Is that a fact, now."

Cynergy nods, seeming more and more ill at ease, and puts her hand to her throat. She needs to breathe. "I should like to speak to you again some day, Dryx. If either of us are still around. I'm not feeling well at the moment though. all of this has been a bit much for me."

Dryx nods softly and pushes off from the wall. "I think perhaps I should be on my way, at that. You should rest, Captain. It's been... a long day."

Dryx nods to Cynergy, "If you'll excuse me. Captain," then to Safix. "Ma'am." He turns, and walks silently through the door.

Dryx heads through the smooth, round doorway downwards into Dawnstar's foyer.

Safix stifles a yawn with her fist and sets down her cold tea, giving up on it.

Safix stands carefully and stretches. "Um, Cyn? If you'd rather sleep somewhere besides the hospital, where there isn't much privacy, you really can borrow my room here."

Safix smiles faintly, "I promise I don't need it."

Cynergy looks down once Dryx leaves, sighing. "I think I've offended you enough, dear. I had forgotten myself and wasn't welcome in your mind. Taking your bed would be improper of me."

Safix' spirits raise faintly as she gets mildly indignant. "What you do or don't know about me now has nothing to do with it. I'm not offended, though maybe we should talk. I may start getting offended if you keep doubting what I say, though. I. Don't. Sleep. There. I sleep over my shop. So you can't possibly be taking my bed if you sleep here. Clear enough?"

Safix' eyes, if you happen to be looking up enough, are briefly not green but red.

Safix snorts, "Besides, I'm only interested in being improper with one member of your family at a time. You did pick that up." It's not quite a question... but it would clearly like to be answered, by Saf's body language.

Cynergy is looking up by then, and marvels at the color change. she nods, but words just spill out of her mouth, "Wonder if mine can still do that.." She's stunned and so awed by you for the moment.

Cynergy shakes her head a bit, trying to clear away her confusion, "Improper with one? You mean Zarrazz? Oh, you must have had some grave misunderstanding with him. I mean to fix that." she frowns, "Somehow..." she sighs.

Safix blinks and clearly realizes what her eyes did. She scowls slightly, as if it doesn't make her happy.

Safix tilts her head at Cynergy. "Er, n... yes. I suppose that was improper, too. Sorry I hit your... friend, but I promise he deserved it. I don't think either of us is going to start another shouting match in the street soon, though, if it makes you feel any better."

Cynergy is totally confused now, and raises both her brows, "Hit Zarrazz?! Shouting in the street? Oh goodness, what has he done now?"

Safix offers a hand to Cynergy. "Here... you're tired and should rest soon. We can talk more once we go downstairs, where you'll sleep safely alone. You can even keep the dagger 'til you have a set of your own repaired. I have a wall of them."

Safix sort of blushes. "Um. I'll explain downstairs?"

Cynergy nods, getting up but only after making sure she's holding onto something first. "I'm afraid I don't know this place we're in. It wasn't here when I left." she makes to follow you out, holding onto things.



(OOC) Tue Apr 3 1901 11:02 PM by "Safix" at "Perth" (OOC)

Cynergy walks better with each step, but she still reaches out to hold things, ever mortified by the thought of going down gracelessly on her elven ass.

Cynergy bites her lip, looking pointedly at the bright rug. "I have never spoken as well as I thought. I wasn't a born speaker... meaning, I had to learn to use words, and, I never feel as though I am saying what I mean. In time I'll explain more about that if it confuses you. But I am sorry for reading your thoughts. I did not intend... consciously, I didn't think about it..."

Safix nods, awkward... "I don't know much about how that sort of thing works... I didn't really think about what it would mean, if I let you in..."

Safix sighs, "So it's not all your fault, ok?"

Safix says, "I don't think there's any harm done, either. It was just... very odd, and I'm... arrgh. Look, I'm not proud of everything that's in there, and other stuff I'm afraid other people will disapprove of... I was kind of ashamed to think you knew things I hadn't been telling my older friends. Am ashamed. If that makes any sense."

Cynergy shrugs, "I'm predisposed to it. At one time I knew nothing else. I could read anyone's thoughts and they mine. that -was- the way we spoke." she nods, "Your thoughts are sacred to me. that you said what you did even after you knew my nature... meant a lot. If you want me to keep them inside I would never breathe a word, but dearest.. this is Arcana, and, I think anyone here five seconds cannot feel righteous or higher than another."

Safix looks a bit puzzled. "What do you mean, this is Arcana?"

Cynergy shakes her head, "No, your shame makes both perfect and no sense. Perfect in that you should have it, non in that what you are thinking, perceiving, is perfectly natural."

Cynergy frowns, "Are they not calling this Arcana, still? Night City? the realm of Oloth?"

Safix giggles, "No, no, it's still Arcana! I meant, why is living here such an equalizer in your mind?" Her face and mood lighten a bit.

Cynergy snickers, taking a seat on the bed. She is amused. "Oh Saf, do you not know Alois has his own dark secrets, and Dred has his, and I mine, Rennyn too... even Sylune, I'm to bet, perfect as she seems to me, my sister. Surely Cain, her beloved, though through his mind I would not run willingly lest my life depended upon it. Sometimes there is danger in knowing too much, especially as a Vrinn. Adopted or not. Saf, Everyone has much they are not proud of. Being in love..." oh she did come right out and say it, "-is something to be proud of!"

Safix says seriously to Cynergy, "Thank you. I trust your word that you will hold my thoughts sacred. I truly appreciate that..." she blinks at the in-love part and blushes fiercely, her expression falling.

Safix flops gracelessly down amongst the plentiful pillows and rests her chin on her knees.

Cynergy's jaw suddenly clenches tight, and breathing is hard for her. Her face stays very still, though. "But I can understand your fear. Love is the most damnable and loathsome thing. The weak should not play at that game at all. Guard your heart well, and take care to stay far from those who regard your most intense gift as .. disposable."

Safix says hesitantly, "...You wanted to know what happened with me and Dred yelling at each other in the street? I said I'd tell you, and it ends up explaining a lot."

Cynergy waves a hand, eager to get off of that subject, "But you're worried how the other would feel, I have seen? Fear it not. I too was worried how Brownwyn would understand the intense attraction Gala'maDred and I suffered,... " she cuts off as you begin speaking, and nods, "I do wish to know, yes."

Safix wrinkles her nose. "I'm not just worried about how one other would feel , Cyn... I'm afraid the whole stupid-ass love-thing is not something anybody else outside this room needs-- or would remotely want-- to know." She looks rather depressed for a moment, then continues, "But yes, about that story..."

Cynergy listens, sometimes looking at you, sometimes playing with a strap on her flightsuit...

Safix goes on, "Alois... has become a good friend to me... and more, yes. I trust him. But we'd not been obvious about that until one night in the Path, when a series of very startling things happened, and I... well, was terrified for a little while."

Safix says, "I was a slave in Arcana once, years ago, and I don't remember much from that time... when I'm awake... but it's left a lasting impression on everything about my life. Just one of those things is a fear of men's anger and raised voices."

Cynergy nods, understanding to some extent more than Saf would know. She continues to listen, until the interruption..

Cynergy hears a pleasant chime, and the round door clears itself, showing Dakini on the other side. She's resting her palm on the door, and by her stance it can be seen that the door's transparency is one way. She waits a moment, then says, "Safix? May I come in? Dammerung tells me Cynergy is there?"

Safix continues, picking at the carpet, "Dred was shouting, very angry, at a drow woman who had come into the bar... a difference of religion, I think. It made no matter; my old owner was drow, and male, and I can't take that without cringing anymor-" She blinks at the sound. "Uh.. yeah, sure. Enter."

Dakini steps through the round, dove gray door from Twilight's twisting hallway.

Dakini smiles at Safix, then nods politely to Cynergy, "House Vrinn sent some stuff over for you. Would you like it?"

Cynergy looks up, surprised, wondering if she's going to be told to go back tot he hospital for more healing.

Cynergy raises an eyebrow, but can't help but smirk, "Ah, so they've not forgotten about me. Yes, please. I can only hope it is not rothe stew, or something equally as... oh hell, I think I wouldn't mind rothe stew at this point.."

The wall next to Cynergy silently extrudes a wrapped package, which falls next to her.

Safix looks up from staring at the carpet to watch.

Dakini folds her arms and smiles faintly, leaning against the wall and watching.

Cynergy blinks, and looks down at the package, and feels stupid about it, but, ever the one to mind her manners it would seem, actually thanks the wall.

Safix smiles slightly, approving.

Dakini smiles again, looking pleased. "You're welcome." She pauses, then says gently, "May I ask a possibly terribly forward question?"

Safix flinches, then decides Dakini wasn't talking to her.

Cynergy picks at the side of the paper and then looks about to RIP it open, but looks up, "Yes?" she looks to see if it's to be asked of herself or Saf.

Dakini thinks about how to put this politely... she's not sure how, but figures the question might need to be asked, so just says it, "Um... I don't know how to ask politely, Cynergy, but if you haven't done it already, I thought it might be nice if you apologized to Safix about the mind search?"

Dakini smiles ruefully, "Sorry... there's not a whole lot of social training on psionics in most of the cultures I've been in for any length of time."

Safix says in a cautious tone, "We'd sort of already covered it, actually. Everything's fine." Everything is clearly not fine, which begs the question-- if the mind thing has been resolved, what has not?

Dakini raises an idly curious eyebrow at Safix, "So... if that's covered, why are you still tense, Safix'ya?"

Safix blows out a deep breath. "Because we were in the middle of telling a difficult story when you came in."

Dakini studies Safix quietly for a moment... then nods, "Would you like me to leave?"

Safix looks quietly back at Dakini, and says, "No. Come sit. I'd like to get this out while I still want to tell it."

Cynergy lets Safix answer Dakini, having only nodded one when Dakini asked that she apologize. Her expression is hard to read, and she just stays silent, but goes about almost silently unwrapping what clearly is a garment from the package.

Dakini nods to Safix again, and murmurs to Cynergy, "Thank you." Then she looks around, settling herself comfortably cross-legged on a large pillow with an ease that bespeaks of much practice in sitting so.

Safix speaks... "I was explaining what happened the night I had a fight with Dred, and why. Dakini already knows my old owner was a drow male; she guessed one night because of my first reactions to Alois... amusingly enough, he used to frighten me simply because of that..."

Dakini nods quietly, just listening.

Cynergy listens, for the moment forgetting her garment which now lies very carefully unwrapped from paper yet folded delicately in her lap.

Safix says, "I think Dakini was in the bar that night when Dred was angry and verbally attacking that drow priestess. That's where we were when you came in, Dakini. To continue: I was embarrassingly, stupidly frightened near out of my wits, and couldn't stop shaking. I was sitting next to Alois on a couch at the time, and he noticed, and we'd become... friends by then, and I trusted him. He reached out to comfort, and I ended up curled up against his side like a frightened child for some time...""

Dakini nods quietly, "So I saw."

Cynergy rises a brow, "I am supposing a priestess of Lloth had the bad sense to cross the threshold of the path?"

Dakini smiles, "Actually, no. It was a disguise."

Cynergy raises both brows now. This time she doesn't say anything.

Safix makes a slight face. "Or like a hooker, apparently. According to Dred. Eimi, Alois' Lady, came in shortly thereafter while I was still like that, calmer but close... and Dred hustled me quickly out, on the pretext of helping me discuss shop security, which he and Alois and I had been talking about earlier. I was puzzled... nobody had told me about Eimi yet... but went, trustingly enough."

Dakini rolls her eyes in faintly exasperated amusement.

Safix' eyes gradually turn bright red, eclipsing the green. "And once he got me outside, he told me to run along like a good little whore, and asked how much his brother owed me for the night..."

Safix says, "I slapped him, and to use a cliche, the whole conversation pretty much went downhill from there."

Safix laughs dryly.

Dakini grins, "Safix... don't worry about it. That's just Dred."

Dakini says, "Just ignore it."

Cynergy snorts, amused suddenly, "But this does not sound like him at all!" Oh, look, there it is, that same expression of amused shock she had when she was told she was captured as a slave, mindfucked to sleep, and brought back without her ship or crew. Far milder, but the same look, nevertheless.

Safix spreads her hands, face calm, a slight smile on her lips. "So I'm told." Her eyes are still quite red.

Cynergy blinks, stunned at what Dakini says, utterly speechless.

Dakini looks curiously at Cynergy, "Really? Interesting... you must have very different experiences with him than I."

Safix snorts.

Cynergy nods dumbly, suddenly growing extremely quiet, not offering to speak at all. Anyone can guess all of this unsettles her greatly.

Dakini raises an eyebrow, then says gently, "Cynergy... what is wrong? If there's something wrong we'll try to help you fix it."

Cynergy waves a hand, shaking her head, "It's just I know not the man of whom you speak. We are speaking of governor Gala'maDred Dragonslayer, indeed?"

Dakini nods slowly, "Ja, that is he. Half drow, half gold elf."

Safix blinks. "He is?"

Cynergy shakes her head, "I cannot imagine he has become the complete opposite of what I once knew. I urge you to consider these actions of his... and take them with little regard. Or at least to directly question him about such! surely there was good reason, or simply this was some ploy to save someone's feelings..."

Dakini says with dry amusement, "I'm sure it was a ploy to save someone's feelings... specifically Eimi's and Alois'. On the other hand, it was at cost to Safix' feelings."

Dakini adds even more dryly, "Very high cost."

Safix grins bitterly to Cyn, "Oh, he thought he was doing Alois a favor by getting me out of the way so as not to interfere with his reunion with Eimi. He told me so."

Cynergy nods to Safix, "He is of Gold Elf blood on his mother's side. she was a priestess of Mystra if I am remembering correctly. His father was of the merchant clan Vrinn, a full-blooded drow."

Dakini looks around at the other two women, then laughs softly, "Are we all here of gold elf descent?"

Cynergy shakes her head, "One can easily err and lose their sense of decorum all too easily when they realize they are the only one that can diffuse a potentially bad situation. I am completely sure that Dred meant not, in his heart, and by damn, he does have one... not to hurt you so deeply, Safix. We all do things that get out of hand, or become more than we can handle at the time."

Safix adds, "He also told me that he didn't give a damn if I got ripped to bloody shreds, he was concerned about Eimi... or rather, that he wouldn't give a damn, except that he thought his brother might. Makes you feel... great."

Cynergy shakes her head, "I have no gold elven blood that I am aware."

Cynergy shakes her head yet again, "That is just talk. He meant it not."

Safix nods to Dakini, "I might be. But I can't prove it. Can't say I really care anymore, my only real family anyone is one I'm quite certain I share no blood with."

Dakini opens her mouth to retort... then pauses long enough for Safix to answer. Once she's done Dakini adds, "I would agree, Cynergy, that we all do things that get out of hand... but I'd like to think it's a sign of maturity that one learn from those mistakes. I do not believe Dred has apologized to Safix yet..." she glances at Safix, "Correct me if I'm wrong?"

Safix stares at Dakini for a second and bursts out laughing, as an answer.

Dakini smiles.

Dakini says, "Guess that answers that question."

Cynergy does the same, immediately.

Safix snickers, "You'd be picking my jaw and my ass up off the floor if that ever happened."

Dakini grins at Safix, then smiles at Cynergy, "I'm going to guess you and he were lovers, ja? I'm also guessing this is why he was kind to you... he actually gave a damn about you. It's all right, it's just that folks he doesn't give a shit about need to be wary of him... because he can be downright thoughtless on occasion."

Cynergy licks her lips, trying to compose herself. "I will not make excuses for him. But if you at all think me any judge of character, or at all would hold my opinions in high regard, know that I would be more as equally surprised if Dred meant the words, than if he apologized for saying them."

Dakini grins at Cynergy, "You're kind to defend him... you must have a good heart."

Safix winds down a little, eyes still about half-red, and gasps, "In all fairness, though, his brother did apologize when he found out... walked into the end of it, actually, then followed me upstairs when I fled into my shop. So I can't consider the family a total loss."

Dakini smiles quietly at Safix, "I'm glad it worked out for you, Safix'ya."

Safix smiles kindly at Cyn. "I'll take the thought and add it to my impressions, kind heart."

Safix glances at Dakini and blushes. "Er. Has it?"

Dakini grins, "Isn't that for you to say? -although I'll guess that at least for now it's working out well enough..."

Safix remembers too late that Dakini answers that sort of question.

Cynergy calms considerably at the question, preferring to simply skip it rather than broach that topic now. "He would be kind to anyone, could he trust them and never fear a backlash to his pride or station. In that he is most sensitive. When he is thoughtless, it can be most telling." she smiles a little to Dakini, then to Saf, smirking. "My, how I would let you both down. You expect too much of me, and too little from others. there is an explanation, but I can't begin to know it."

Dakini says, "An explanation for what, Cynergy? And station and pride are earned... not privileges."

Dakini says, "As a very wise woman once put it to me, courtesy is owed. Respect is earned... only love is a gift given freely."

Safix evades Dakini's grin for a moment to tell Cynergy, "I don't think I expect anything of you. I'd like you to heal, and I'd like you to be my friend... but I'm not imposing demands or expectations."

Cynergy fingers at the garment in her lap, about to answer Dakini when the comment about love snaps her mouth shut.

Safix' eyes slide back to Dakini. She sighs and picks at the carpet without looking down.

Cynergy shrugs only, then, "If love is given at all. That is the crux of all complications."

Safix sighs again.

Dakini grins a little wickedly at Safix... she can't help it! Then she blinks a bit, realizing teasing Safix isn't appropriate currently. Instead she turns and looks at Cynergy thoughtfully, "Your pardon if I have brought up painful memories, lady captain."

Cynergy's face is unreadable, hard to tell, truly, if it is painful to her or not. "Worry not, I was only thinking of Safix."

Dakini smiles slowly, her gaze far away in memory, "Oh, love given freely is a gift indeed." Then she leans over and pats Safix' hand lightly, "Carpe diem, dear. Seize the day."

Safix says a trifle morosely, "Perhaps love freely given may be so free as to entirely escape the notice of its object. Would that truly be so bad? It is still just as given..."

Dakini chuckles softly, "If he hasn't noticed yet, dear, he's not looking."

Safix turns hopeless eyes on Dakini. "I'd rather seize the night. At least I can have prettier illusions then."

Cynergy smiles, as she rises, she gazes down to Safix intently.

Dakini smiles quietly at Safix, "Don't hide behind illusions, channi... let love show. It grows that way, I think."

Safix says very softly, "I'm not stupid. I know I'm not pretty... I know I'm not really special... I know I won't last. I'm trying not to think about that."

Cynergy says, "Saf, would you not swoon if Alois said the words to you?"

Dakini leans forward and says with firm emphasis, "Safix, that is crap... you stop that right now."

Safix smiles up at Cynergy, eyes still self-mocking. "I think it might kill me. I've never tested my tolerance for that much joy."

Cynergy smirks to her, "Ah, how you lie. You are thinking them! And don't think I'm in your mind again, but you are thinking those things of yourself, hoping to believe them, so that if... if your very fears come true your heart will not shatter! It is so telling, you think of them, for only you could think such fallacies!"

Dakini glances at Cynergy, a little startled at the er... poesies... then grins at Safix and says dryly, "What she said."

Safix sprawls on the floor, grinning sardonically up at you. "I do lie. I'm lying right now..."

Dakini laughs, flicking a smaller pillow at Safix.

Cynergy sneers, "Then by your own words, Saf, would it be truly so bad if he never said to you the words? Would it make any difference in how he would love you? You have said, in regards to your not telling him that it would not, but in regards to his telling you, why, it makes all of the difference. My girl, you are the consummate liar, if only to your own heart."

Dakini raises an eyebrow again... but then just shrugs amusedly to herself and turns her gaze back to Safix.

Safix smiles... blinks, and her smile spreads into a real one at Cynergy's words. "You have a clever, lashing tongue, m'lady Cyn. I'm going to enjoy watching you unleash it upon all of Arcana... as long as it includes yourself. Don't call the kettle black, because you do have a point, but I'm not sure you'd like it to rub off on you too."

Dakini grins at Safix, looking a bit relieved that she's getting her edge back, and simply murmurs, "Well put, Safix'ya."

Cynergy holds up the garment in her lap. "I must change. For years this has been my attire, and I am suddenly anxious to shed it. I have no felt worthy of it in the past hours." she smiles at little at Safix, shaking her head, "Clever tongue? Why I said nothing.. nothing at all my dear." she looks around, "Where is there a place to which I can discreetly escape?"

Safix shakes her head. "Good grief, I get bitchy when I'm being morose. I'm sorry, Cyn." Good cheer returns to her face. "I still meant what I just said, though I could've said it more nicely."

Dakini chuckles quietly.

Safix points Cyn in the proper direction.

Cynergy seems not to have taken it badly, waving a hand. "Be sorry for nothing, you've not offended me. Though I'll not pretend to know what you mean about making such apply to myself. I've told you how I feel of love. IT is no game for the weak."

Safix tilts her head, but doesn't say much past her smile. "Ok, Cyn. I'll explain it later."

Cynergy nods once, departing for the area in which to change into her garment.

Dakini murmurs quietly to Safix, "Incidentally, as per your request, you're mentally covered, channi..." She finishes mentally, ~*~ query/source-cause of pain-worry? ~*~

Safix answers verbally, if quietly. "Mostly worry that everyone would be mad at me, for various reasons, if they found out about Alois. The rest... is more past-linked."

Dakini smiles quietly at Safix, "Mad at you about what? That you love him? That you're lovers? No... you're an adult, Safix. You get to make your own decisions. What friends are for are to be there if you need them."

Safix says sheepishly, "I figured even you wouldn't like it, you seemed so disapproving..."

Safix smiles, even more sheepishly. "Thanks. Now I just have to worry about the rest of the world."

Dakini laughs softly, "I'm worried you'll get hurt, dear... but isn't that part of growing up, I suppose? I'll have to go through it too until I have my family selected."

Dakini chuckles quietly, "Don't worry about it too much. The folks you need to worry about right now are you and Eimi... Alois can take care of himself. Always has."

Safix makes a face. "You're worried I'll get hurt... it's a small club, but feel free to join it. And yeah, I'm worried about Eimi too."

Dakini says quietly and gravely, her mirth slipped away, "Safix... take care of yourself... and if you need or want help... just say so. We're here. You know that."

Safix nods. "Thank you. I'll try, honestly I will. It would be smarter not to be in my position... I know that. But it's too late... I can't even want to stop feeling this way now. It... oh, Dakini, it's horrible. I've never been so happy in my life as when I'm with him. So, I truly appreciate your friendship, and the offer of help..."

Safix ends, looking sincerely at Dakini, "I'll probably need it."

Dakini grins quietly at Safix, and offers her a quiet hug if she'd like it, "Ja, I've heard it can be like that. It's a wild ride... hang on tight, channi."

Safix leans peacefully into the hug, grinning a little sadly. "I will."

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Last modified: 2001-Mar-24 21:20:14

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