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Daemonic Madness II: Better Angels
Characters: Closed to characters below!
Summary: Continued from our Daemonic Madness plot, the conflicts simmering below the surface of the community are finally coming to a head.
Date(s): May 2018
Warnings/Notes: Psychic coercion, sexual themes, etc. If you have not been contacted about a previous role that you'd like to continue, please reach out to![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
shramp!
The two men are in the woods tonight. At least, it looks like it's just them.
It's been months since they went after the little girl, but that was in another tract of forest entirely— they've run into each other once or twice since then, and seen her abandoned car still sitting by the roadside. A few of the succubi and the other sex worker had asked after her, but none had been surprised when they were told Delilah couldn't be found. The amplification accidents are over and people are safe— if Delilah chooses to make it so, all they can do is look for her. But life goes on.
The weather is mild and Hunter is out for a run, listening to the song of the eerie, alien 'wolves' that inhabit this world. Their occasional, piping songs lured him out a few miles out to the North, but he's on his way back when he hears the thwok of arrows hitting solid wood targets, and the crisp crunching of someone else moving in the deepening dusk.
Vanyel is practicing his archery against a tall tree. Vanyel hears it too, of course. The weight of a body moving over vegetation. But here's the rub: they know that it's not just each other that they hear. There's someone else out here, amid the trees and the thick brush, moving about. No telling if it's D.E.S.T.I.N.Y., or someone who means them no harm at all.
At this point, guard duty with the succubi is both uneventful and also pretty sexy. There are a couple different men and women, employees, who've gotten rather friendly with her— eager to flirt, or to talk about the culture of her home, to discuss music, the best soundtrack to discussion. You know. #justdemonthings. Just sexy demon things, specifically.
The reverse of normal businesses, it's usually the late mornings that they ask her to come in to the luxury apartment complex, with more of them sleeping or going about business that they don't get done during busy nights. There haven't been many thefts lately, and certainly not on the same scale. Some had started to suppose it might be over, and that they should let Rosalina get back to her usual, sexy life. But they kept procrastinating, perhaps flatteringly; they like having her around. She's one of them, this motley collection of those regarded as discards and freaks, even for those who come from the more progressive worlds.
The other guardstaff are pretty cool, too. There are a couple rumors floating around about why the last guy got fired, but that aside, it's typically Bill the Lizardman who hogs the couch between patrols and Akari the Human Ninja who doesn't say much, but did bring them take-out steaks this one time.
It's a nice way to earn some extra barter goods. And positive vibes, which are ever in short supply in Xistentia these days.
This morning, Rosie's hanging out on the orange couch, while Bill mutters and pushes at her leg. Akari is walking the halls for now. "I'm bigger than you," he says. "No penis jokes." They have already talked about the penis jokes. Just because his genitalia isn't always external doesn't mean he doesn't have a penis!! Rosie! "I should get more couch."
TBD.
Summary: Continued from our Daemonic Madness plot, the conflicts simmering below the surface of the community are finally coming to a head.
Date(s): May 2018
Warnings/Notes: Psychic coercion, sexual themes, etc. If you have not been contacted about a previous role that you'd like to continue, please reach out to
Daemonic Madness II: Better Angels
Of sinners I am chief
Delila (Closed to Hunter & Vanyel)
The two men are in the woods tonight. At least, it looks like it's just them.
It's been months since they went after the little girl, but that was in another tract of forest entirely— they've run into each other once or twice since then, and seen her abandoned car still sitting by the roadside. A few of the succubi and the other sex worker had asked after her, but none had been surprised when they were told Delilah couldn't be found. The amplification accidents are over and people are safe— if Delilah chooses to make it so, all they can do is look for her. But life goes on.
The weather is mild and Hunter is out for a run, listening to the song of the eerie, alien 'wolves' that inhabit this world. Their occasional, piping songs lured him out a few miles out to the North, but he's on his way back when he hears the thwok of arrows hitting solid wood targets, and the crisp crunching of someone else moving in the deepening dusk.
Vanyel is practicing his archery against a tall tree. Vanyel hears it too, of course. The weight of a body moving over vegetation. But here's the rub: they know that it's not just each other that they hear. There's someone else out here, amid the trees and the thick brush, moving about. No telling if it's D.E.S.T.I.N.Y., or someone who means them no harm at all.
Guard Dogs (Closed to Rosie)
At this point, guard duty with the succubi is both uneventful and also pretty sexy. There are a couple different men and women, employees, who've gotten rather friendly with her— eager to flirt, or to talk about the culture of her home, to discuss music, the best soundtrack to discussion. You know. #justdemonthings. Just sexy demon things, specifically.
The reverse of normal businesses, it's usually the late mornings that they ask her to come in to the luxury apartment complex, with more of them sleeping or going about business that they don't get done during busy nights. There haven't been many thefts lately, and certainly not on the same scale. Some had started to suppose it might be over, and that they should let Rosalina get back to her usual, sexy life. But they kept procrastinating, perhaps flatteringly; they like having her around. She's one of them, this motley collection of those regarded as discards and freaks, even for those who come from the more progressive worlds.
The other guardstaff are pretty cool, too. There are a couple rumors floating around about why the last guy got fired, but that aside, it's typically Bill the Lizardman who hogs the couch between patrols and Akari the Human Ninja who doesn't say much, but did bring them take-out steaks this one time.
It's a nice way to earn some extra barter goods. And positive vibes, which are ever in short supply in Xistentia these days.
This morning, Rosie's hanging out on the orange couch, while Bill mutters and pushes at her leg. Akari is walking the halls for now. "I'm bigger than you," he says. "No penis jokes." They have already talked about the penis jokes. Just because his genitalia isn't always external doesn't mean he doesn't have a penis!! Rosie! "I should get more couch."
??? (Closed to Era et al.)
TBD.
delila
Today he's not out with the deliberate goal of searching for her. He runs to run. It's what's in his blood and he gets too stir crazy if he doesn't. And as he runs he hears the local wolves. He can't help but be lulled in by them so far....
He passes Vanyel, still a wolf large and slinking now as he slows his run. His wolf form is mostly known around the area, but he still gives a nod to be safe. He's about to keep plopping along, even if his run has slowed to a slow trot, when he hears another in the forest. His head snaps around, scenting the air for any smell that seems familiar. Nothing he can quite place from the locals in town. He stands still, staring in the direction of the sound he heard. )
no subject
She also hadn't expected how easy it was to commiserate with this ragtag group of people from round the multiverse. But it was. Not many people Get It yet they do. And she gets them, lizard man and quiet ninja and all. It works out between them all somehow, more often than it doesn't. That's more than she can say for most of her life with people before Eudio.
It works out, even when someone nudges her leg while she's trying to be, like, totally zen. ]
There's always room for more penis jokes, [ she says to that but doesn't actually make one. ] But there is no more room on this couch, you're right. Maybe we could push two together? Make super couch. [ A consideration, then. ] Or I could just sit on your lap. I have no problem with that.
no subject
[Yes, they're people after her heart. 'Both,' he was going to say. The more the better. But all of a sudden—
CRASH!
From out beyond, down the corridor. It isn't immediately clear if it's Akari or something else, but she should be out there somewhere. A split-second later, there's a cry in a female voice. Bill the Lizard Man glances at her, then immediately lunges off the couch, tail lashing, running toward the noise.]
no subject
The knowledge of her probable fate weighs on him -if to a lesser degree than the aftermath of the psychic attack by D.E.S.T.I.N.Y., now- every time he enters any patch of woods, however far removed it is from the forest where she vanished. It keeps bubbling and churning in the back of his mind, even as he sinks into a semi-trance in his concentration, lulled by the calls of birds, the rustling of leaves, all the other little sounds of life going on in the forest around him.
He catches sight of the wolf out of the corner of his eye, at first, and while recognition isn't immediate it doesn't take long - the circumstances under which he first saw Hunter's wolf form are pretty well seared into his memory. So he returns the nod, turns back to the tree when Hunter gives every sign of moving on - only, he hears it too. Something like a twig snapping under foot, the rustling of underbrush as some or something steps through it.
So he turns to look in the same direction Hunter is, crossbow held - not quite at the ready, but it can be in moments if need be.]
no subject
Delila looks different now. Instead of the cute, chunky jewelry, the hipster winter wear she'd bundled herself up with, her round cheeks and fraught eyes, she's gone lean and ragged. Her hair has grown out, dragging vivid but limp over her shoulders. Her clothes are scraped and tattered, but still hold their shape around her narrowed frame-- a testament to the quality of what she'd chosen, before her powers overwhelmed her and she'd fled.]
Don't come too close, [she calls out. Her voice is rusted over -- no doubt from disuse. It's better by far than having been killed by a rock troll, certainly. She cocks her head, birdlike. Her eyes skip from Vanyel to Hunter, but the wolf can tell that there's a shade of inaccuracy to it— whatever she is, she can't quite see in the dark. Not like he can.] I'm-- I wouldn't have even risked it. But I know you were trying to help me. And I think, maybe now you can. But maybe— maybe it's more important that you help everyone else.
[A beat. Her breath mists in front of her face.]
You're all in danger. D.E.S.T.I.N.Y. isn't what we though.
no subject
How about what! Alas, she'll never know. She could hope the answer would be 'both,' of course, but- There are more important matters at hand. ] Uh. [ While the crash alone causes her tense, the scream calls her to action. Soon as they exchange glances, Rose is darting after him without another word. ]
no subject
so when he shifts back to human, he does some courtesy to try to stand behind as much foliage as he can. because his clothes are back at the house where he had planned to return, and there's not much else he can do for it right now. sorry gang. )
What do you mean not what we thought?
Can't we do both? Help everyone else and you? ( he doesn't approach, not yet. he's too scared of chasing her away again. but he can see clear enough in this light to know that she looks the worse for wear. it weighs heavily on his conscience, and he can't bear to see her disappear again. )
no subject
They get to one of the rooms— one of the entertaining rooms, and that's where the door is ajar. Lizardman ends up scraping deep grooves in the floor with his long toe talons, dragging with his weight in the effort to stop, like a dog. He hooks a long, green hand around the doorframe to help stop himself.
Rosie gets there first. And what she sees makes no sense at all: Akari is on the floor, her gloved hand wrapped tightly around an ornate statue of an androgynous figure. It's clear that the object had been sitting in a display case there a moment ago— it's shattered, now, a knife sitting among the glass fragments, a streak of blood running through it. And on the far side of the room, through the razor-wired window, Rosie catches a glimpse of a face.
Seemingly human, a red-haired girl who doesn't look familiar. Her cheeks are gaunt, her clothing ragged. She stares at them blankly.]
no subject
It doesn't make any sense but she's quick to try and piece together what she can. Akari is on the floor, holding an object that she- Did she try to steal it? It's doubtful, even to Rose, that their ninja friend might have been the thief all along. Especially not with so many missing pieces to this puzzle. Shattered glass, a knife, blood. A person she doesn't recognize. ]
Hey, [ she says. It's somehow commanding but calm. Firm but not unkind. A skill she'd picked up in her time home, how to sound a bit more authoritative. Her hands are up to show she isn't planning to attack straight away. People respond better to that sometimes. ] What are you doing here?
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Nothing else is here, [he says with authority. Then, abruptly,] I think?
[In the meantime, Akari continues to writhe. The veins bulge from her jaw, and she seems to be struggling to speak. When she does, it comes out with a fierce, uncharacteristically loud swear of Japanese. And then, in a broken hiss,] He's in me, don't let me steal the—
--Shut up. [It's Akari again, but her voice is different.] You're just going to cut your own hand off?
[But she's already moving again. Lunging for the knife. And it would seem, to stab it into her own gut.
In far window, the woman steps away, red hair swinging over her shoulder. When she moves, Rosie feels a flicker of magic inside of her-- she feels her glamor strengthen, absurdly, waxing like a tide. The lizardman feels something too; he grunts in surprise, and claps his hands over his own eyes. Fortunately, without his claws out.]
no subject
Her eyes flit to the woman in the window at the surge of magic. Bill can feel it too she gathers from that grunt. It's certainly jarring, something she wasn't sure was possible. While she can manipulate her glamour, for it to come off as stronger isn't anything she's experienced. But despite how baffling it is, they have something more important at hand.
Much as she wants to pursue the mysterious figure, she doesn't want Akari to commit seppuku lite on the floor in front of them. In a flash, the blond is dropping down to her knees at the ninja's side to try and grab the knife or stop her from using it on herself if already in her grasp. How about let's not shed any more blood. She's not about to underestimate Akari's strength - especially not if possessed - but it still might surprise her. Magic kind of throws a wrench into a lot of works like that. ]
no subject
He doesn't approach either, though, letting crossbow fall back to his side and generally making his body language as relaxed and unthreatening as he can. He'd rather not spook her into disappearing again either - even if she can clearly survive out here on her own.]
What he said. [He nods toward Hunter, not appearing bothered by the lack of clothing in the least. Nudity's never bothered him - but even if it did, they have more pressing concerns at the moment.]
no subject
I found what I was looking for. But so did the spy.
[The spy, the spy. She seems suddenly to remember, the next instant, that she's yet to have said anything about 'the spy.' She flinches suddenly, in what seems to be frustration; reaches up to grab her own hair. Both Vanyel and Hunter feel a strange pulse of power— even though she's far away by now. A shimmer of fur on Hunter's spine, and the earth in a wide circle around him starts to cinder faintly, as if he'd drawn a dozen ash runes. But then both powers subside.] Can you help me? It's hidden in the woods. What the thief took. I'll be able to think clearer with it.
no subject
It sends a shiver down Hunter's spine--
No wait.
Fur sprouts there, another near forced transformation, and Hunter shudders it off as best he can. )
What are we looking for?
no subject
Akari screams. It's half her own voice-- the quiet but girlish contralto with which she'd offered her compatriots free food. But split through it, there's a note of discord, of shouting. A different being in a deeper register.]
You caught me. I'm the thief. But I call truce!
[The lizardman swipes up the knife with his tail, almost missing because of his disrupted vision. But he manages to grab it up, the supple limb wrapping around the handle twice.] Maybe you should've thought about that before you uh. [A beat. He hisses at Rosie,] What is it he's doing?
no subject
The scream grates her in ways that cast her down a dark memory lane. She can remember Ren's undead rasp, the way that he'd yelled in pain from simply existing. Considering he wasn't supposed to anymore, well. She could only imagine how awful it must've been for him.
Thankfully, Akari is very much alive. Rose wants to keep it that way. ] I think- Something? Someone? Is possessing her.
I mean, that's just my best bet.
no subject
She probably can't get away or fuck them up with just one leg free, right? Right? Not even a ninja.
In the meantime, Akari cries out,] Don't listen to him! [in her true voice. And the competing creature grinds out a moment later, with a nearly comedic sense of ire,]
Or maybe do. I'm a thief, but there are worse things in the Multiverse.
[The lizard man makes a disdainful sound, his forked tongue slipping in and out of his long-toothed maw.] If I had two tails, [he says. It's probably not an intentional sex joke.]
closed to era;
Or maybe it's the real problems that lie and cheat and hope to go unnoticed while everyone is busy.
But the warning comes through Era's daemon as a jumble of piecemeal information. Rosie's voice is prominent: There's a spy from D.E.S.T.I.N.Y. himself. He's powerful, astonishingly so, having somehow circumvented the failsafes and power limits that encumber so many creatures who come into Xistentia. And he's about to escape through the woods, in the quadrant where the Warrior of Light had just been practicing her sparring with her husband and her friend.
Night has fallen. The shadows are long and blue from the trees. And as her daemon falls silent, Era catches a remote rustle of movement in the distance.]
no subject
Aymeric and Estinien will be her back-up, but she will take the lead on the assault. Aymeric can be her shield, and Estinien her lance. This leaves her with few options of what weapon would make for the most balanced party. Era settles for her enchanted rapier rather quickly - versatile movements and skills; able to use black magic, white magic, and elegant swordsmanship.
She relays it all to her dearest of comrades, voice filled with a strength that is Era, the Warrior of Light, and not Era the friend. Tells them the basic plan. That she will go on ahead with Peki, speed being of utmost priority, and that her daemon will keep them updated on her location if they have difficulty tracking her. Estinien is to stay within range of Aymeric at all times, and not even Hyadelyn Herself can help him if he disobeys.
They'll catch up with her later (if she needs them), but for now Era is on her own, chasing down an enemy spy in the woods that have become a second home to her. ]
no subject
She catches a vague glow of light from ahead. She's closing. Whatever the being is, he doesn't move very fast. A sudden stench needles into her senses as she draws breath. It reeks of decay. Old flesh. Something human, or close enough. She zings past the buzzing of a carrion fly.
Her daemon pings. A dozen more people on the search, but most of them are far away; further even than her Elezen companions. It looks like she might be on her own for this one.
She catches her first glimpse, finally. Human-sized. A being with black, matted hair, ashy skin. But its-- his?— neck is glowing, light slicing into view in the heavy dark. He's fumbled down into a ravine. A few hundred yards further, she can see it: a gateway, a portal, a little like several she has seen before. Surrounded by light geometry that weaves into the ground, leading off into the forest. It's drawing power from the substance of Xistentia herself. And wherever it goes, the spy desperately struggles to get there.]
no subject
There may be no aether currents here with which Peki can use to fly, but his wings most certainly slow their descent as he jumps down into the ravine after the man. Era has seen countless portals in the span of her admittedly brief memories, though none that look quite like this. It's clearly unnatural - all straight lines and sharp edges, much like the geometries she uses in arcanima, yet evokes the sense of something organic; a weed digging its roots into the earth, suffocating all the good in it.
It needs to be disrupted, yet the man seeking to reach the portal is of higher priority for the moment. Era leaps from her Chocobo's back, crossing the distance between herself and the grey man with a well timed Corps-a-Corps. She doesn't know what to expect from her opponent, but she also isn't about to run him through with her rapier without being absolutely certain she needs to.
So Era uses the hilt of her blade, bashing it firmly against the man's head in a spot that should stagger him (hopefully) and not outright kill him. ]
no subject
Her blow lands solidly, and the head beneath the hilt of her blade feels-- squishy, in the way that she's familiar with, in her lengthy acquaintance with death, killing, corpses. He feels rotted already, and up close, the stink that erupts from the collision would be enough to make her gag were it not for the spirit of fight pounding through her body. She hears a grunt, and then—
--light bursts forth, out of the wound she struck to him. It's dazzling. Blinding. Painfully bright. She sees stars— literally stars, constellations warping in a black void under his skin.]
You seek to strike me down. [The rotted young man wheels to a stop, finding his footing. He looks up at her with dull eyes. It becomes obvious: he's wearing a corpse.
Literally. Wearing one. The creature underneath is unimaginable.] But it's more than desperation that gives me strength, young woman.
no subject
If the being underneath is incorporeal her rapier will do little, nor will her knowledge of the most vulnerable spots on a humanoid's body. Era cannot know how best to attack or defend unless she knows more about this creature, and yet she does not have the time. ]
And why is it you're so desperate, corpse wearer?
[ She does not trust D.E.S.T.I.N.Y., but neither does she trust F.A.T.E.S. It leaves her more open to listening to what this agent might have to say, if they're at all willing to speak. ]
no subject
But then he reaches his fingers into his neck. Twists. And out of the glittering brilliance of his neck, emerges in a rush of power—
a beast, standing on six wide paws, claws like scimitars, a leonine head. It lunges at her, unthinking— and in the course of it, funnily enough, it actually kicks the corpse-wearer aside. He tumbles away, ignored for the moment by the enraged creature.]
no subject
She Displaces herself, backflipping a good few yards away from the beast. It's like some odd sort of chimera, perhaps with a bit of Behemoth added to it. Nothing she finds all that intimidating. She throws a barrage of rapid-fire spells at it - wind, fire, stone, lightning, light, and dark - before using Corps-a-Corps to get back into range, landing aetherially enhanced blows with her rapier before backflipping out of range once more.
Her Chocobo, Peki, assists her - kicks and pecks with single-minded determination, utterly vicious. A particularly powerful blow stuns the beast for a precious few seconds, giving Peki enough time to heal any damage she may have accrued.
Emmy, for all that it is a daemon, is still her Carbuncle summon. It shoots powerful blasts of air at the creature, slamming it with its body, running circles between all of the beasts' many legs to throw it off balance if it can.
If Era can seal the portal and trap the astral being in Xistentia perhaps something may be able to be worked out between them. There must be a way to save all of their worlds without sacrificing another's. ]
no subject
It's already falling, slumping over on its numerous legs. Its tail traces a huff of dust from the ground.]
Countless universes, [the zombie creature says. And with another flick of his fingers against the open seam in his neck, the beast that she saw is abruptly replaced--
—by two.
One is the shape and size of the creature previous. The other is a massive lizard, with talons as wide as Era's arms. Six-legged again, which seems to be a unique identifying trait of the beasts native to the zombie creature's world.] I am a universe, [he says. It sounds grandiose, but it isn't. It's factual, for him. There's more and more light bleeding out from under his neck, even as he steps toward the portal.] I have billions arrayed against you. Billions within me. You cannot defeat me.
no subject
The portal is where her focus needs to be. Emeraldd and Peki can handle themselves, though she will toss a few rapidfire spells back if need be. Her companions have tackled larger groups of monsters than this with great success. Era just makes sure to let Emmy know to take its time - draw it out to try and avoid even more creatures spawning.
The corpse is slow, but Era takes no risks. She needs to buy herself more time and has just the spell for it. She casts Tether, a spell to bind the target for twenty precious seconds. Seconds Era can use to examine the portal and figure out how to deactivate it. ]
no subject
But even as he stands there, somethings' happening with him. His undead skin is tearing, more and more brilliant light beginning to crack, chink out of it. Slicing through the air, perhaps even the holding spell itself.
In the meantime, Era's own fleet steps take her easily over the ground. She hears the creatures combating her companions-- the lizard is considerably more formidable than she expected, landing a heavy blow against Peki. In the meantime, the other creature starts to fall.
She assesses the situation. And as she measures the distance to the portal, the zombie thing, maps the moment in her head, a sudden flash of an image splits through her mind's eye. It's that same symbol she saw only weeks ago.
A spitting image through her head. Emeraldd's eyes begin to change, a holographic bubble popping out into the air over it. It reads simply:as the energy of the moment sweeps through Era's slight frame.]
no subject
Era stumbles momentarily as the all too familiar image flashes through her mind. When Emeraldd suddenly acts strange. She vaguely remembers Tony saying something about his gift to her involving the use of her daemon, but it's all a blur at the moment. Regardless, she hesitantly sheathes her rapier that she might pull the odd device out of her inventory. It could be a mere coincidence that this gift of Tony's has the same symbol the unicorn showed her, yet Era is not about to question it. If it works it works, if it doesn't... Well, Estinien and Aymeric should be here soon and they can figure something else out then. ]
no subject
Tony's typewritten words come back to her. The way that people -- our people — would change to fit those worlds? Memory loss, changes in physics, abilities, that kind of thing.
Emeraldd's dialogue box jumps and rolls with the little daemon, as its remarkable finesse takes it around the lizard creature and the other monster, moving to target their eyes and throw their attacks off Peki. Emeraldd signals too, that Estinien and Aymeric draw close. Adrenaline pours through Era's veins.
The zombie creature is breaking free. More light slicing through its skin, which forms cracks, like a shell.
And in that moment, she remembers—
Primals. In her own world, they would be the equivalent of a creature so powerful that it contains its own worlds, has its own creatures, unimaginable power. And with an interdimensional gateway right there, she could conceivably take it to the world where it belongs— and regain her own powers, unhindered, as she was.]
no subject
The puffs of ash and tiny flames at his feet actually help, in that regard - he's too busy stomping them out to focus on his anger for very long.
And since Hunter beats him to what seems like the most pertinent question at the moment, he settles for asking] Do you know who the spy is?
no subject
Rose is glad he thinks to tie down more of her extremities. She hopes one leg isn't enough to fuck them up, but- She's not about to put it passed a possessed ninja. ]
That's fair, actually. Though you're also a thief of my friend's bodily autonomy, which is a pretty up there dick move. [ Also, it is
so hard to refrain from making a joke about Bill's dick moves. Why must she be appropriate right now, this is maddening!!! ]
no subject
Anyhow, they all simultaneously shake it off a moment later.]
Someone is opening an interdimensional portal in the forest. Someone who used blood to do it. I caught a glimpse when I jumped bod—
This is insufferable! [suddenly, Akane's voice cuts through, high with anxiety.] Get this bitch out of me!
Well I'm not putting him in me, [Billizard says, tightening the coils of his tail.] I'm twice as strong as either of you. If this is just a trick, you're both dead. [That sounds like mild self-flattery, but who wants to have a body snatcher inside oneself?]
no subject
I'm being literal about both of those things, I think. [She glances back at the men, smiling suddenly. It's probably the first joke she's made in at least a month; unsurprising, that it's not a very good one. She steps away, her ragged frock drifting in the air behind her like so much flotsam in the sea. Pauses, turns back. Gestures at them, invitingly.] My belongings are hidden in the tree. I don't know exactly who the spy is, but I think I'll be able to remember more once we're there.
And there's something about the leylines. [Her brow furrows.] Do you have those where you come from? Leylines?
shows up 20 days late with starbucks, cries into cup
[ That doesn't sound good. At all. Blood magic is universally some bad shit to be involved in, she's pretty sure. She needs to tell someone but Akari also needs them. Maybe she could signal someone, maybe Apollod can send out a message somehow. Where is her daemon anyway? ]
I could. I mean, that's probably no the best idea, actually but- How else do we get him out without hurting you?
[ Sicne that's important to Rose too, alright. These are friends, same as anyone in Xistentia. Maybe they haven't known each other as long but she's not about to let them down if she can help it. ]