GoldenCat/ThroughTheLookingGlass11

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Gallery of Closure

The party is... strange, now.

People begun to run when the Exalted begun to fight, and the prince's pronouncement really cleared their spot of the garden.

Pieces of Opal's ward float like butterflies in the air, the smoke from the risen ground still not cleared...

Seventh Moon: Moon continued to grin at Vorpal's words, but the pulse of silver light that had begun to spiral out from his hands flickered and died.

"Yeah guess we're 'bout even now, huh?" He asked the Abyssal rising off the floor. Moon checked his nose, pressing on it tenderly. It made a strange crunchy sound. Broken. Been while since that happened. Least it would only take a few hours to shape up again. The Lunar wiped the blood from his face off on the back of his glove and gauged just how badly the blood was still flowing from the sheen on the leather.

Well, maybe not even. A bruised wrist didn't stack up with a bloody nose and a trip across the quick trip room. But that was fine. Like the bitch had said, they could straighten that out later. If shit was as bad as Alex's screaming had made it sound...

Well, Moon wasn't about to loose his city again so soon after getting it back.

Rolling his shoulders to try to accommodate the dull ache pulsing through his arms from Vorpals blow, the Lunar strode back over to the Pale Angel, hands stuffed harmlessly in his pockets. "A'ite, I'm good for now. The fuck's goin' on?"

Selina de Windia: "I never got to hit anyone." Selina says with a pout, eyeing her sister, then Moon. And then glaring at Opal. "I ought to hit you so very hard merely for interfering only when I decided to do something. And maybe I will. "

Iselsis: "Neither did I, technically that was a miss.", she returns her sister's stare, slowly straightening out from her ready to pounce stance. Fight's over, apparantly.

Seventh Moon: "Always next time." Moon chuckled at the pair. And there would be a next time, the glint in his eye as he stared at Vorpal promised at least that.

Exceedingly Sublime Opal: She lowered her chin slightly, and her eyes blazed with her anger toward Sel. "I'm so sorry your sociopathic urge for violence wasn't fulfilled, Dark Angel. And if you want to try, take your best shot. I am quite fragile, and I know how you enjoy roughing up those weaker than you."

Defiantly, she heaves out her chest, "Well? I'm waiting. Prove to me what a mighty woman you are, Dark Angel."

Vorpal: Vorpal does not move as Moon saunters up to her. Her back is still tense, her eyes still watch for any suspicious behaviour from the Lunar's part. It would certainly be just like him to play the innocent boy and then pounce onto her undefended back, laughing raucously for the sheer glee of it...

But it seems he is serious about the cease-fire for now. Which makes her let out a tiny sigh of relief. The Ghost-Blooded is strong, but she is all too aware that she is no expert on unarmed fighting. Had they continued this little scuffle of theirs, she surely would have been the one laying on the floor, black and blue, in the end.

Well, she thinks, her heart still pounding, her will still struggling to push the beast down, let's leave that for another time.

"Next time", Vorpal promises, meeting Moon's case the best she can. "I'll do my best to make you happy then."

Turning from the Lunar, the addresses the rest of the hall with a slightly louder voice. "We can all continue this next time. But not now. There are more important things to talk about."

Next time... I'm bringing my sword.

Selina de Windia: Selina gives the woman a razored, dangerous smile. "That would sound very nice if you hadn't tried to kill someone for looking up your skirt. Please. If you're that jealous, stop being passive aggressive about it. Even our dear new arrival airs her dissatisfaction with me openly."

Iselsis: "That's because I lack social graces, though.", she says sarcastically, though somewhat truthfully.

Exceedingly Sublime Opal: "It is not in my nature to be less than forthcoming, Dark one. And its not passive aggressiveness. Passive aggressiveness is me discontinuing your project. This is me stating that, simply, I do not agree with your actions in so attacking someone you confess feelings for, and the Pale one beside you. Yes, you can kill me."

"But that doesn't make you right. "

Iselsis: Meanwhile Ise slowly saunters back over to Moon, still making sure to stay a little behind and to the side of him.

Selina de Windia: "Moon doesn't need your protection. I was not trying to kill him. Get the stick out your arse." Selina says dryly. "It was passive aggressiveness. He could have accidentally killed those mortals, but you tried to stop me and not him."

Exceedingly Sublime Opal: She merely rolls her eyes at Selina, and turns her back on her and begins walking off, refusing to continue the conversation with the woman. Of course she was bias.

Seventh Moon: "Hey," the Lunar shifted his gaze over to Selina, glaring at her hard in offense. "I knew what the fuck I was doin' darlin'. I roughed 'um up a lil, but I wasn't gonna fuckin' kill anyone. Just havin' a good time with 'um, y'know?"

Iselsis: "Yeah, it's not like either of us are stupid enough to kill someone. Besides that guy had it coming to him to start with!", she adds.

Vorpal: "Oi", Vorpal calls out and rubs the back of her head with one hand, "Expressions of love sometimes take very strange forms."

Turning, she moves up to one of the men knocked unconscious during the battle and bends down to examine how badly he was injured. "Someone help me with these people."

Selina de Windia: "I accept your concession." Selina says in a grating tone at Opal's back, then turns to the other two. "And it's easier for you to kill them than it is for us to kill each other -- I would know. And that is the point I was making, in case you missed it."

Kanti: ...oh...someone needs help.
I should help....
but..drinks...
and the prince....
and no uniform...
..but no screaming robes either...
Kanti apologetically smiles at the sidereal, then hands him the bottle of Vodka, and moves over to the remains of the fight, looking at the people.
They were a little roughed up...

Iselsis: She shrugs, running a hand through her now loose and much more disheveled than before hair and plucks the remaining magical cigarette out from under the strap of her dress, blowing on it to light it before taking a few puffs and making rings of smoke when she breathes out again.

"In my defense, they threw the first punch, so I was only defending myself."

Alexander: Alex looks down at his glass... looks back at the 'Circle'...

... and gulps it down in one go.

• Gennadi grins. "See, now you're getting it. The world is mad. You can fight it and break, or learn to use it, understand it. The lesson of martial arts, sorcery, politics, fighting.... Hrm." He pauses a moment to refill Alex's glass before clapping him on the shoulder. "Congratulations! You're got a new tutor. Let's go find somewhere less dangerous to celebrate, shall we?"

Seventh Moon: "And I ain't exactly forgettin' they hurt easier 'n we do. Been havin' some real good looks at that lately, y'know? Wasn't gonna pull nothin' on 'um that didn't bruise at best." Well, there was that one guy who'se ribs he'd snapped... but the guy had plenty more ribs where those came from anyway. Moon simply shrugged. "Shit if it matters anyway. Fight didn't last long 'nough ta get too rough."

Vorpal: Vorpal doesn't even bother to reply. Seeing that the first victim isn't in any immediate danger, she rises and moves on to the next one.

Selina de Windia: Selina snorts. Moon was just spoiling for fun, and doubtless her sister was offended at the party and joined in. Then she looks over to Gennadi. "Hey! Tell him that if we have to go fight in another horrible battle the next day, that it's pointless to stay awake all night dreading it."

• The next one has broken his ribs, holding to his swollen chest, coughing some blood now and then...

Gennadi: "I'll make sure he gets to bed at a reasonable time, mother!" He fixes himself a glass now. "By the way, I'm impressed how well you handled that stuff. This is some quality firewater."

Alexander: "Takes more to stop me..." He says, looking at them...

"I shouldn't leave, though. We still have things to talk about..."

Vorpal: ...damn.

Vorpal frowns. "Oi!" she calls out without looking up. "Get a healer for this one!"

Kanti: Oooh...blood wasn't good. blood was bad. unless it was hers..sometimes. but the blood had to stop. Kanti knelt by the man, and concentrated, and concentrated, and concentrated, and eventually the blood stopped, and his chest stopped swelling and everything was a little a better for him.

Gennadi: "Sure you do. With me. Before the month is out, I'll teach you of the shape of the world, things desired and feared, truths best unspoken and maybe even some important stuff. Mostly because really, man, you're letting all these pretty women down acting like this. I can't stand that."

Vorpal: "Keep away from him, you horrible man", the Ghost-Blooded calls wearily, not even bothering to give a glance in Gennadi's direction as she nods in approval to Kanti's work and moves on to the next one.

Gennadi: "That she tells you you shouldn't is only a clear sign that you must. You cannot lie under an angel's watchful wing forever."

Iselsis: She cuts a glance over at the prince and Gennadi "Yeah, don't listen to the shifty eyed little rat, he'll only get you into more trouble, I should know!"

Seventh Moon: Moon turns at the sound of the watery cough and Vorpals cry.

Shit.

Alright, maybe he'd spoken a little too soon. But at least Kanti was already there to deal with it. He stepped over to the Terrestrial and the man he'd injured, stooping down beside them. He stretched out a finger and gave the man's ribs a poke, then smiled at Kanti. "Hey, good job darlin'."

Patting her shoulder, he stood back up and offered the man a hand up. "Sorry 'bout that man. Good on now?"

Kanti: silly pretty nasty ghost
gennadi isn't horrible.
he even hit me!
Kanti traipses around the result of Moon and Iselsis' fun, patching the people up, and applying her magic where it was needed.

• Gennadi just grins. "Consider who says that, and it only adds to my credibility."

Iron Tears: Then, a god steps there.

Looking around, and shaking his head.

"You know the last Chosen I have been in a party with have been more.. controlled."

"Brave new world. I suppose?"

Selina de Windia: Selina then dusts off her gown -- no tears or rips yet! -- and sniffs. Wasn't someone else supposed to show up here too? Then she looks dryly at Alex. "If you go the path of the newcomer and Pale Angel I'm going to hurt you so very much. They are quite enough for me."

Alexander: "... you have quite a reputation, Gennadi..." The prince says...

Drinking more of his glass.

"... their... path?"

• Gennadi refills it immediately. Can't have the royal with an empty glass, now can we?

• The man holds Moon's hands up, still clutching his ribs... "Eh, fine... man, you pack quite a punch. Why did we keep a guy like you in the gangs and not in the army, anyway...?"
  
  The men Ise hit, on the other hand, were just comfortably numb. Nothing broken at all, just bruises that would last a week or two with them.

Iselsis: "The newcomer has a name she can be called by besides the title of 'the newcomer', I'm just pointing that out now for future reference.", she blinks and directs her attention to the god who just strolled in. "Did the last party you were in with Chosen have a bunch of perverts there too? Because that might be the problem."

Iron Tears: "Pervets?" He asks, amused, "Did the commotion begin because one tried to peek up your skirt? Strange... Kadel's guests seemed to always have a greater sense of self-preservation than that."

Selina de Windia: "Yes, you know." Selina replies to Alex, then shrugs. If he can't see it she's not going to tell him. Then she turns to her sister.

"That's right, but I didn't think you'd want me using it. I am not going to call you by whatever title you have given yourself. Pick a normal name to use as an alias if you would like to hear one, as I do."

Seventh Moon: "Might'a been cause I ain't too fond'a offin' my friends 'n neighbors, y'know?" Moon smiled, but it was tight lipped. "Anyway, figure on changin' all that shit come soon..."

He helped the man balance out and then gave him a good natured slap on the arm, maybe one just a little harder than necessary. Iron Tears was around now though. Moon didn't have time to socialize more than that. He left the man standing where he was and closed back in with the others, stepping up beside Selina silently.

Iselsis: "My name is Iselsis. I've been called it for years, so just learn to live with my badly thought up little alias."

Smiling Lover: She comes, behind the Iron God...walking up to Kanti, touching her face. "Hello, Kanti."

"Enjoying the party?"

Alexander: He drank more of his glass, then looked at Gennadi... "... are you trying to get me drunk?"

Selina de Windia: "Make me." Selina says dismissively, then turns to Moon and says in a much quieter tone. "Someone hasn't shown up yet. I wonder if this scared her off."

Gennadi: "Only if you want me to try to get you drunk. You seemed to be enjoying the stuff, and rather calmer, so I thought I'd see where it went."

Iselsis: She cracks her knuckles as a grand display of readiness "Don't think a god being in the room will stop me from taking you up on that. I never did get to hit a deathknight in unarmed combat yet."

Kanti: Oh, her
the one who wanted to take me from mistress
the one who wanted to take me to heaven.
she's pretty today.
Kanti nods to the goddess, smiling in that very happy way she has been ever since she left Fiona and Shalyia.
"Yes..yes.."

Seventh Moon: "Tch, doubt it..." Moon didn't need to ask who Selina meant. He'd been keeping an eye out for her most of the night. "Be lucky if she didn't try ta join in. Maybe she had garrion shit ta care'a or somethin'."

Vorpal: After seeing that the last mortal victim is not in danger, Vorpal rises, dusting off her hands and then placing them to her hips. She tilts her head to give the forge god a long-suffering look. "Humor them. Chosen have egos the size of small kingdoms."

It is time for her to return to Alex. The star-man is getting all too amiable with the Prince to her liking. Pausing only to give the beautiful goddess a long, strange look, she firmly makes her way back to where Alex and the Sidereal are discussing higher purposes of of life.

• Gennadi pours her a glass of vodka as well, passing it over.

Smiling Lover: "Good." she smiles to Kanti.... tall, slender northern woman with generous curves and full lips. Her hair is spun gold that has been twisted into tight curls. Her pale skin flushed radiantly under the light of the forge's fires, she wears only light make-up and only the most obstinate of critics would say she needed to adorn herself any more. Dressed in an elegant gown of white that clings to her every curve, artfully reveling a enticing amount of cleavage and fashioned to flash her perfect, pale legs through cleverly hidden slits in the skirt, she displays her beauty with pride and holds her head high, a warm, perfumed breeze follows her inundating the fire aspect's senses...

"You did not wish to come to heaven with me, Kanti?"

"There is still time..."

Alexander: Alex looks at his glass...

"All this... why are they like this? It is like they don't care..."

Gennadi: "Caring is weakness, caring shows your hand to your enemies. You can do it, but shhhhhh.... don't let anyone know."

Iron Tears: "Ladies, please. Why fight in such lovely night? The party is not completely ruined yet, but may very well be if you continue..." The god says, stroking his beard as he looks at Selina and Izabella... carefully interposing himself between them.

Vorpal: "Ego", Vorpal repeats quietly, laying a calm hand onto the Prince's shoulder. Her eyes, however, hurl a solid warning to Gennadi, a very cool and authorative suggestion that the star-touched should be careful about what to say next.

Alexander: "We... do not know anything, however. Why was the Parishioner here? What happened? Why did the General leave? If he is the spymaster, shouldn't you be trying to interrogate his corpse?" He sighs. "So much, so much, and people seem to not even think..."

Kanti: heaven ...
I want to see heaven...
I want to go to heaven...
but not alone....
Kanti stands there and breathes in the subtle scents of her perfume.

"Not with you."
That might have been a little direct...

Selina de Windia: Selina shrugs. "I'm not going to start this one, don't worry." Then she walks over to where the Prince, the sidereal, and the Pale Angel are.

"I will not allow you sheltering him to the point where he becomes a thirty year old brat, Lilith. You are not the only one who will have to deal with him on a regular basis and I do not enjoy that."

• Gennadi runs his hands through his hair, spiking up the front into a crown of midnight blue horns. He simply grins back, looking her up and down, apparently comparing the reality to the portrayals he's seen, and deeming it good.

Seventh Moon: "So, what...?" Moon glared at Iron Tears, breaking into his attempt to ease the tension between the two women. "All this 'bout armies and people dyin' and shit was just a buncha' fuckin' bull ta get us ta stop havin' fun our way so people could get back ta dancin'?"

Vorpal: "I don't plan to do that", the Pale Angel responds acidly to her Dark counterpart, "Nor do I plan to be your privileged possession, if that is what you are thinking."

Alexander: "The Smiling Lover takes offense, but before she can say anything, Alex calls to her.

"Kanti!"

... possession?

'Iselsis: She grumbles a little to herself, she'd actually wanted to fight Selina and wipe that smug look off her face once and for all.

Oh well, there'll be plenty of chances for that later.

She refocusses her attention on Iron Tears "We haven't met. I'm Iselsis, and I'm here to help the others retake Whiteshield."

Iron Tears: "Of course not. And I am curious about what the Prince has to say as much as you. I just came by to see what was with the commotion. I could sense the essence pouring from inside the manor." He says, looking down at Moon, tall as he is in his human form. Then, at Iselsis. "I have heard of you, Iselsis. You helped during the fight, if from afar. Apparently, it is the nature of my city to attract strange allies. It is good to meet you."

Selina de Windia: "Oh yes." Selina responds sarcastically. "Be assured I have so many thoughts of tying you up and putting you in a closet for my own personal amusement."

• Gennadi takes the momentary distraction to lean down and whisper in Alex's ear. "Don't mind them, they're just arguing over who gets to be on top. Rather, how do you feel about

being their possession, someone to be fought over and shaped as they so please?"

Kanti: alex!
I forgot about alex...
he likes the vodka though!
Kanti smiles apologetically at the lover, her eyes still gleaming somewhat. and walks over to the prince.

perhaps I shouldn't have phrased it like that.

Alexander: The prince cannot help but blush, whispering lowly.. "... and is that good or bad?"

Gennadi: "That depends on what position you'd like to take, now doesn't it?"

Iselsis: She nods at the Iron god and smiles, just slightly. "It's not really my thing to come into close combat, despite current evidence to the contrary."

Selina de Windia: "Him? On top?" The Windian chuckles. "I don't think so."

Kanti: alex not top?
Kanti pouts.

Chibi-Vorpy: Oh, he can be on top _anytime_, if you ask me.

Alexander: He blushes even darker, "I suppose not even whispering works with you around, now, does it?"

He takes a moment, and a deep breath. Ignore Gennadi and all that happening around him. There were things he had to do. Now. Soon. He seems to grow, as he turns to Kanti. "Kanti, your mistress has wielded her right of ownership to me. You are my servant, from now on." He says, with all regality and authority he could manage.

Iselsis: Then she seems to remember something and cuts a glance towards Moon, "Hey Moon, what do you think is keeping the late arrivals from getting here? Shouldn't they be here by now?"

Selina de Windia: "No, actually I have lent her to you." Selina says smoothly. "If things go well, you can keep her. Maybe. We'll see how things work out."

Seventh Moon: The Lunar shrugged back at Iselsis. "Fuck if I know darlin'."

It wasn't really bothering him too much that the Pack hadn't come streaming in yet. Whoever had the poor luck to be sent out to fetch them had to find them first.

• Gennadi bends backwards to look up at Selina. "You seem to have a heart after all. Do

you keep it in a drawer with your underwear or in a jar beside the cookies?" He winks. "I think you vastly underestimate the boy's potential."

Selina de Windia: "It's in my lingerie drawer, yes."

Alexander: He turns to the Dark Angel, with an accusing finger... "This was not what you said before, Dark Angel."

"Will your terms keep changing?"

Selina de Windia: "You pressed me before I had given it enough thought." She tells Alex, somewhat disapproving in tone. "I do not appreciate people trying to get me to hurry through a decision so they can get away with more than I intend them to."

Kanti: I'm the princes? I'm still hers? who's am I? does it matter? are they going to fight? will I ever know?

"...what's happening?"

Kinny: His Mistress walked away, angrily. Iron Tears just shrugged. Hands on his pockets, Kinny watched Moon. The more he looked at Moon, the more inadequate he felt in his elegant, shining clothes. He wishes he was into the brawl. He wishes he could go to Moon right now. But he felt the tug of the Smiling Lover on the back of his mind. She wanted him close...

A last look at his friend, a sigh, and he turned his back, and walked away.

• Gennadi shakes his head sadly at Selina. "I'd think people take advantage of you so rarely you'd learn to enjoy it while it lasts. You didn't seem to mind that slap from earlier."

Alexander: "She was scared. She was confused. If you wish, I can wield my rights later... but if she is only lent, she will remain confused. She will remain yours' on her own mind. Nothing will change!" He says, "You cannot judge how well I do then."

Selina de Windia: "You will defer to my present judgement." Selina says casually, tone making it clear that she brooks no argument on the matter. "The difference between what you say now and lending is but of a word. Thus, do not make such a large fuss over it. Call it whatever you want."

Alexander: He turns to Kanti. "Kanti, does it make a difference to you wether you are given or lent?"

Iselsis: "Well this is all lovely and all, everyone talking all nice and friendly, instead of fighting. But what the hell was the huge emergency that everyone suddenly has forgotten about to sit there squabbling over who should own another human being?", she strolls up to the others, hands casually behind her head with her fingers interlaced.

Seventh Moon: "Kinda what I wanna know." Moon agreed, following Iselsis to where the others were clustered up. "Can't this shit wait till later too? Said there was a fuckin' army and people dyin' in shit. Get on it, man. Talk ta us."

Alexander: "I am trying to address that! Should just get this out of the way first!" The prince says, covering his face on his hand... too much, too much at once.

He needed more Vodka.

Vorpal: "All right, everyone", Vorpal raises both of her hands alongside with her voice, to make an earnest gesture. "Perhaps we should calm down now, before we lose the last remnants of our credibility. There is a serious matter to discuss. Namely, an enemy army heading south-west even as we speak."

• Gennadi pours him some. "It'll get easier as you learn, trust me."

Iselsis: She cuts a glance to Gennadi "And give me some of that already, stop hogging."

Exceedingly Sublime Opal: She eventually returns to the fete, and make shift trama ward. Everything looked where enough in hand again, and she glanced around to make sure the Dark Angel was well enough desposed as to not confront her about her horrendous breach of protocol.

She saw Moon and his chat with Iselis, and sighed a bit. She'd probably have been right, but it was Moon. She did not know him to kill wantonly.

Gennadi: "This is for myself, the prince, and perhaps Kanti. Besides, he's going to take forever to get a buzz, I'm not wasting the good stuff." He flicks another cigarette at her, this one thicker and more intense smelling.

Selina de Windia: "Oh please." Selina gives Alex and then Vorpal a sarcastic look. "We already knew we were going to have to deal with the General. Unless your solution is to run out right now and try to catch up with him, it makes no difference whether we agonize over the situation tonight or not. We were dealt bad cards, deal with it."

"We can make some plans and just shut up about the entire thing for the rest of the night."

Vorpal: "I don't think we can get back to the festive mood after all this", the Ghost-Blooded responds dryly to Selina. "Well, maybe you can, but I doubt the same of the other guests we just scared off with our little jolly time here."

Iselsis: She catches the cig between her 'smoke fingers' and lights it "This better be good Gennadi.", and starts to listen to the conversation. She could probably catch up with the General at the speeds she could move at, but she'd already exhausted her motivation for extended travel at high speeds getting to the Boil and wasn't up for another high speed trip to fight more deaders.

Alexander: "We thought he was already dealt with! Valencia has no idea he is coming for her, and neither did us!"

"If you weren't so concerned with spreading my lady's legs, you could have remembered to tell us something so inconsequential!" His voice is angry, his eyes slitting. "'The two women you look up to', was it? And you could care less if one of them dies as long as you get to strut some more. Do you know where to go? Do you know what you intend to do next? Do you have a shred of a plan?"

"Then please share! "

Kanti: Kanti glances between the two, looking very nervous, something of the urgency of the situation filtering through her warm, solar haze.

lent?
given?
It was important...wasn't it...
no-one wants to talk about it now...
or do they?
alex does...
she doesn't...
who to listent too?
everyone was getting so angry...
I should just be quiet...

Iselsis: "Prince Alexander. Take some advice from me: and calm down. Have another drink, even. No sense in shouting and spouting meaningless accusations if you're interested in trying to find a solution. If however you were looking to start another fight, then disregard what I just said and by all means carry on, cause I'm rather bored."

Vorpal: ...Oho?

Now that is enough to quiet even the Pale Angel down. Her young and handsome Prince, such strong and foul words gushing from his mouth...

...he's finally learning.

She has to admit, she feels just a little bit of admiration just then.

Iselsis: And having said that she takes a draw from the cigarette, or rather joint, and grins a little "Hey, this is good."

• Gennadi mentally marks down a point for the prince, amused. Maybe this will take less work than he thought...

Seventh Moon: "Lay off, man." Moon cut in after Iselsis, staring down at the prince. Part of him agreed with what the prince was shouting, but fuck that. It was his woman the little bastard was shouting at. "She'd'a said somethin' if she thought it was worth sayin', a'ite? Shoutin' 'bout it now ain't gonna make anything happen. Just piss a lot more people off. So do like the lady says and calm the fuck down."

Selina de Windia: *Whoosh* *CRACK!*

Selina's backhand impacts against the side of Alex's face, hard enough to rock him backwards a bit, but not enough to knock him over. She moves up to him, voice deadly serious now. Quieter, almost in his face. The voice of death and inevitability. "We were both bred to rule...but it seems my blood runs the cooler. Learn this lesson from me before it costs you something you do not wish to pay. Yes, I have a plan. I had one before the news tonight: I am leaving tomorrow with a few other people, probably the Pale Angel, and formerly Kanti. I do not know what you are doing, but some of us must remain behind to secure the Boil."

"As for Valencia: If you think she'd fall that easily -- already prepared for war -- just because her enemy attacks first, then you have been sleeping through your history lessons. Whelp."

Iselsis: She told him so.
"I told you so."

Vorpal: "Selina."

Vorpal speaks into the silence then, her quiet and devoid of any apparent emotion, not even shock or anger at the sudden abuse of a young boy right before her eyes.

"You are wrong. Valencia's foe is a Dusk. She cannot win."

Alexander: He staggers backwards. His eyes flare. They are fully white, again. White-hot in anger. He grits his teeth as he looks up at the Dark Angel. "I am going... to save Valencia... I have to! And don't you dare do it again, you... you... you...!"

He knows what he will say. He knows the word...
And a long time spent pampering his manners clashes with Vorpal's lessons...
... and wins.

“Just do not dare to do it again.”

"So... who is staying?" Is all he can say.

Iselsis: "What's so bad about a Dusk?", Ise pipes up, "Either way, sounds like what you need is an exorcist. It just so happens I know a really good one, too!", she smiles a little, the yu-shan joint was apparantly having some relaxing effect on her.

Gennadi: "I suppose I should notify Valencia, if she doesn't already know... Got a name for our army-destroying foe?"

Alexander: "... The General."

"The General of the Army of Blood and Fire. "

Seventh Moon: Moon had been silent for the exchange that followed the slap, a frown etched deep on his features. A frown for what Alex had said. And a frown for what Selina had said as well. After all that shit she'd told him, about how he should stick by her and wait, how he shouldn't run off and chase the Vestal...

Would have been real nice to know she planned on taking off.

"I am." Moon spoke up, expression unchanging. He shrugged and tipped his head towards the city out of sight beyond the curve of the hill. "My fuckin' city after all. Sides... ain't yet up ta snuff, y'know?"

Gennadi: "That's not much of a name, really. Certainly not enough to track down who he was." He shrugs. "I'll tell Cael when I see him, he can relay it to her. Are we done with everyone waving their metaphorical dicks?"

Kanti: "Lent is how I ended up with the Vestal." Kanti says quietly.

Alexander: "Cloud in Dawn told us. The Celebrant told us. Raegar Malian." A name well-known in the Northwest, in the lands close to the mountains and the Bishop, a general who conquered many kingdoms before his disappearance.... "Valencia knows it. She just does not know he is coming."

Alexander's gaze to Selina was still venom.

Selina de Windia: "If Valencia does not kill him, I will." Selina replies simply. "Dusk, Dawn, Full Moon, it does not matter. They are all warriors."

"And I do not want to see such unprofessional anger and haste again. Leading an army entails more than swinging a sword, and keeping yourself from panicking under stress is one of those things."

Vorpal: "If you are quite done with your boasting", Vorpal tells to the Dark Angel rather matter-of-factly, "We should start making our plans. Is the corpse of this... Parishioner still available?"

Alexander: "I was not in panic, Dark Angel. And next time you do not tell me of your plans, I will assume you have none."

"If you intend to work alone, then do. But do not assume we know of your plans."

"I cannot read your mind, yet."

Iselsis: Ise seems to have a lightbulb moment then, complete with a sudden enlightened "Ah!" sound, she turns to Gennadi "Gennadi, make sure to tell him to watch their rear and flanks even if they engage the General. The Acolyte isn't here in the Boil, I'm almost positive, so she's probably either in Whiteshield or with the General, preparing a sneak attack against the defending forces."

Vorpal: Vorpal raises an eyebrow, her white fingers idly caressing the very tip of her chin. "So that would make two deathknights?"

Iselsis: "Well, one deathknight and a 50% chance of another one. See the Acolyte tried to have me killed by one of her minions because she's still sour about me taking all her chips on poker night, so to speak. It shouldn't be a problem if I'm with them anyway, she'll probably come to me first, vindictive bitch she is, and then I can finish what I started.", she shrugs a little.

"But if she were around here she would've come for me herself, she didn't, so she's probably not here."

Gennadi: "Potentially two. Val's pretty, and a good dancer, but she is going to need some help if it's true."

'Seventh Moon: "Three, maybe." Moon cut in, holding up three fingers. "Red-Haired bitch is still out there somewhere. 'nough'a chance she might stick her head inta things. Or else do somethin take fuck things up."

Gennadi: "Three? Let me guess, if I say I'll tell them that, someone's going to pipe up with another."

Selina de Windia: "I sent the Parishioner into the Void." Selina replies simply. "There is nothing left to question, if that is what you are getting at."

"And you will not assume such with me again, Alexander. Unlike you, I am a professional."

Alexander: "There General has a Dragon-Blooded bodyguard, as well. All working in unison."

Iselsis: "Well I'm pretty fast, I could probably get to them before the General does, personally, since he's lugging along an army. Assuming he hasn't made too much headway there, that is, and I dealt with the Acolyte before."

Alexander: "And some big thing, apparently. Behemoth or something."

Selina de Windia: "The General left long ago enough that he would be nearly at the front now if he did a forced march. If not there. We will come up his rear while he is engaged -- that was my original plan to begin with, once he left."

Vorpal: "You", Vorpal pronounces, "are an idiot I do not need the soul, I need the corpse."

Selina de Windia: "It's gone."

• Gennadi shrugs. "Just write down what she doesn't know. I'll relay this in the morning. Large scale tactics are for a different color. Try to get all your bitchiness out tonight, it's getting sad and tiresome." He passes Alex the bottle. "I'll have a present for you in the morning, Kanti, so try to be presentable." He ducks out of the circle and waves. "I'll keep in touch. You're still getting a lesson, just delayed."

Iselsis: "Then I suppose I'll hope I was wrong about the Acolyte."

Fiona: "Excuse me..." She appears, smiling.

"Why would you march when you have me? Do you ever think of others?"

Vorpal: "Too bad", Vorpal sighs. Placing her hands onto her hips once more, she taps the ruined floor with her shoe for a moment. "So much for that lead..."

She looks up, intrigued, at Fiona's arrival.

Kanti: "Fiona...!"

"...no-one else is listening to me..." she murmurs.

Fiona: She walks up to Kanti, holding her hands... trying to give her some assurance... "They could stop to think. And... well, you all known I can transport everyone miles and miles away, right?"

Exceedingly Sublime Opal: "Excuse me. I do not know if this is pertanent to this discussion, but there is a survivor of one of the Perishoner's in my power at the present time."

"The entity known as Ecstacy survived."

Vorpal: Vorpal's head wheels instantly around, to regard the beautiful Jadeborn. "'Survived', as in, flesh still intact?"

Iselsis: Her eyes cut to Fiona "Well then, what are we all waiting for? Let's gear up and move out?"

Exceedingly Sublime Opal: "During the battle with them, during which I found myself... exposed, as it were. After that episode, I used a trick I know of to force instant attunement with an Artifact, in this instasnce a staff one of the demonic guardians had been weilding, tried to beat them off of dearest Kanti. When Selina returned, and eventually obliterated Ecstacy, I found that there was a curious bit of crystal within the weapon."

"Yasal crystal, specifically."

"Instead of being cast into whatever unpleasent fate the Dark Angel's powers cast one into, her mind and Essence resided in the weapon, specifically the embedded shard."

Vorpal: "In a bit, dear. We have to work this out first", Vorpal responds to Iselsis before turning back to Opal. "If there is no flesh, it's of no use for me." The Pale Angel sighs. "Do you know of any way to talk with this crystal?"

Exceedingly Sublime Opal: She frowned very faintly. They weren't going to like this. "They inherent properties of Yasal Crystal allow one to communcate, even if its empathically, with the trapped entity. Usually this is to negociate for use of their powers in exchange for a promise of freedom."

She idly glances toward Kanti, before looking back at the Pale Angel. "I used her to cap a Demanse." She said, matter of factly, as if she had just stated she had taken a jar from the pantry.

Kanti: "....Esctasy?" Kanti asks, with a shiver.

Vorpal: "Ah", she says, simply, silently wondering what that was all about.

And...?

Exceedingly Sublime Opal: She nods gently at Kanti before continuing, her eyes going back to the Pale Angel's again. "The resent battle caused a large upsurge in the levels of Essence permiating the region. The fires and heated passion of the recent conflict, as well as the accumulated emnotional energy of the area in which it formed caused it one to form, near to bursting. This city has been through enough without a Fire Aspected Demanse causes fires to the surrounding area."

She looked back toward Kanti, beautiful Kanti, "And I wished to make you something, perserve something for you." She sighed, and blinked away the brief display of sentlementalism. Her gaze found the Pale Angel again, "So, using a technique I am familar with, I used the crystal as one of the capstones to keep the Demanse from forming uncontrolled."

Chibi-Vorpy: *sweatdrop* Yes, go on, I understand...! ^_^; Crystal clear!

Vorpal: The Pale Angels coughs, knowingly. "...and?"

Exceedingly Sublime Opal: "And the hearthstone should already be forming as we speak. Her 'flesh' as it were, is the capped Demanse. It is not a Manse in the traditional respect that it is a grand structure, the hight of inspired Artiface and Archetecture, but it serves for now." She arches an eyebrow at her. "Besides, she is still bound with in the Yasal Crystal. I just used her to inflence the Essence texture of the Demanse."

Vorpal: "But..." Vorpal continues, choosing her every word carefully, "The original corpse was destroyed completely, yes?"

Fiona: "... I think what she means to ask is, 'where can I find her, talk to her, and does she know anything that can help us?'

Vorpal: "...yes." She nods, belatedly.

Exceedingly Sublime Opal: "Demons are odd that way. The more progressively powerful one is, the less distanced they are from their material form. Ecstacy was of the First Circle, and judging from her powers and appearent desire to subsist of the voices of those in the throws of her namesake, I would surmise she was the progeny of the Weaver of Voices, or, at least, a devotee of the same." She looks to Kanti, and a sadness touches her eyes, before looking back to Vorpal. "Yes, she is able to answer questions. She should be actually quite happy to, considering where I placed her. I was actually going to speak to the Smiling Lover about that..." She frowns a bit, her pretenaturally quick and intelligent mind drifting of course for a moment, before remembering the origanal topic.

"Would you like to visit her then?"

Fiona: "I understand you trying to tell us the technicalities, Opal, but, um... this is not the time."

Exceedingly Sublime Opal: She frowns a little bit at Fiona, "Forgive me, I do tend to ramble on."

Selina de Windia: "When you people are done, I'd like to know who is coming with me." Selina says levelly.

• Alexander smiled. It seemed that, after all... there was some hope.
  
  Some.

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