Box of Fish

Log Info

• Title: Box of Fish
• Emitter: Cryosanthia
• Characters: Cryosanthia, Kira, Braelnoir
• Place: A10: Temple of Althea
• Time: Sunday, June 07, 2020, 4:50 PM
• Summary: Cryosanthia is in the Temple of Althea, in a room that contains a Mage's Magical Mansion spell, that allows her to have a reasonably comfortable space to stay in, that will hopefully prevent scrying from Salina. It's been a few days, with Mikilos arriving daily to re-cast the spell, that she's been out of sight, and this has helped her relax. A pool that she uses frequently, also contributes. She is visited by Kira who wants to check up on her. They discuss uses for the excess food, Kira's sacrifices, Cryo's conditionning and her difficulty breaking it, or even thinking of a life without Salina. She briefly touches on her faith, and what answers she's received for her prayers haven't been strictly supportive. Braelnoir arrives, transformed back into a human, and how that happened is discussed. Conversation turns towards their other friends, Brae describes how she is seeking help for Merek, and Cryo explains her latest bad idea for attracting the attention of the King of Light and Illusion. They all decide swimming would be better, and do that.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  Appearing, in Order  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Cryosanthia  6'9"     267 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
Kira         5'0"     120 Lb     Human             Female    Blonde woman in simple robes with an eye patch.
Braelnoir    5'8"     146 Lb     Human             Female    A kordite woman with long silver hair.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

The Temple of Althea

A small private healing room has been arranged for Cryosanthia. In addition to that, the mage Mikilos was willing to cast Mage's Magic Mansion for her, daily, until the situation with the Fae Queen is resolved. He can't promise he'll have to spell for her every day, but so far he has arrive regularly to invoke a new one before the other fades. Thus, the interior of her small room is a lot larger than it should be, provided one is on the guest list.

Today's arrangement seems to incorporate a small bedroom, a banquet hall where the majority of the food is fish, then fruit, then vegetables or other meat, a pool and an exercise room. There's an alcolve to the banquet hall where a small group can sit, to avoid the temptation of continually grazing on the available food. There are windows, but they show only abstract swirling colours.

Cryosanthia's demeanor has improved a lot now that she isn't worried about being both a target and a subject, and while she is effectively trapped in a box, it is a nice box and she's got decades of experience staying inside with a limited landscape so it's something she's used to.

Kira has some idea of what Cryosanthia's going through, though she can't claim decades of experience in a small space. Not even if one counts her personal cell in the temple, for this is far more expansive than most other places in the temple. She arrives, not surprisingly, accompanied by the smell of fresh bread. The basket is mostly empty, and the remaining loaves are placed on the table. While Cryo might not favor them, and they are not nearly as lavish as what's on the table already, Kira feels obliged to make some small contribution.

Speaking of her scaled semi-sister, Kira looks about for her. "Cryosanthia? Are you here?" She probably wouldn't be somewhere else, but it's habit and manners.

"Oh hi!" Cryo's head pops out of the sitting alcove, followed by the rest of her. She seems to have her full ensemble of clothes, gloves, sleeves, boots and the style is a loose long shirt and a skirt. Her nostrils flare as she scents the bread, though she goes directly to Kira and not the loaves, so she can deliver a hug. "This one is here! Obviously. Thank you for coming by. It gets a little unstimulating at times but it allows me to think of features to ask Mikilos for the next day. I wish I could adjust rooms on the fly, that might be too much like the Tower but it would be fascinating. Have you been Ok? Unwatched? It must be harder for you to tell and a little awkward."

Kira returns the embrace warmly (and not just because Cryo tends to be chilly). "I hope you didn't take offense. It seemed more polite that calling 'Where are you?'" She smiles. "I am well. How are you?" The other part of Cryo's question gets a mildly sheepish look. "I can't really tell if or when I'm watched. I don't know magic as well as you and I can't look myself."

The whitescale isn't that chilly at the moment. She feels slightly cooler than room temperature but not much different than touching a piece of wood furniture. She tilts her head to the side, "I don't really know all that much magic or magic theory. I have a few tricks I use extensively and some knowledge I've picked up over the years. My spells are improving but they're quite weak."

Cryo nods, at Kira's explanation, "Well, hopefully not in here. I should watch my mark all day sometime just to be sure, but Mikilos was confident this is a secure option. I've been well, went for a soak, bounced around the gymnasium. I've been sitting and staring out the 'window' mostly. It's peaceful."

"I won't worry of it in here, and I don't think you should, either," Kira tries to dismiss the worries just like that. There are already enough going around. "I'm sorry that I wasn't able to be here sooner, but I will be more available, from now on. The temple thinks its prudent that I not go too far, and changed my expected duties some."

Cryo nods, picking up one of Kira's loaves. She splits it in half and puts a blackened tuna steak fillet in it, finds a few vegetables to garnish it with and some sauce. She grabs a large glass of coloured liquid, the exact nature is unclear, and gestures towards the alcolve. "Come, grab something to eat if you want, and let me know. How did they adjust your duties? Are they concerned also, after the Soldier's Defense? I don't know how many others with marks still live, or if they're aware of the danger they might be in. There was some prejudice against having them, even Mictlan, felt it means a betrayal."

She takes her plate, to move towards a comfortable chair and a spot where tempting food isn't always in sight.

Kira looks to the table and takes a plate with a few pieces of fruit. It'd be rude to decline, or waste it, for that matter. "It's a shame we can't feed this to others..." She catches up to Cryo and switches to answering her questions. "I don't know how many are marked, either. As for my duties, I was given more here, in the temple, and less that woult take me around the city or further. They shortened the day, also, so that I could visit you more. I suppose it's just as wise for me to be here, as you."

"Well... we could. It would necessary to let everyone come through which would require either a guest list, or no restrictions." Cryosanthia says. She slips into an overstuffed armchair. It looks rather soft and comfortable and not surprisingly has a large half-moon hole in the back where she can slide her tail through and move it around if she so chooses. "Perhaps a pass-phrase is possible? I know the Pubs and Chefs get upset when mages are giving away food better than they could prepare. Still, it would be a positive thing. It might be nice to have visitors parading through."

She leans forward and smiles, "Thanks, for visiting me. I will not try to bite my hand off or escape if no one comes to see me for a day, you must not worry. It has healed fine, no lasting damage? And if you want a room to your design, let me know and I will ask Mikilos, there is no reason there couldn't be a few more bedrooms. This one is not sure which thought is worse, that She would have little reason to scry while one is sleeping, or that She still might..."

Kira settles into a chair nearby, though seems more than a little surprised when she... sinks into it some. She even startles initially, thinking it might be collapsing. After she settles, she hmms. "I didn't mean to have a parade, only that there are still those who have little or no food and can't afford it..."

She blinks out of that when Cryo mentions biting or running, but her smile grows when she realizes she is jesting. "You're very welcome. I will try not to worry." As if that's ever succeede for her, in general. "Everything healed fine, so you don't need to worry, either"

Kira opens her mouth to comment on Cryo's last, pauses, and closes it again. After a moment, she adds, "I hadn't thought of a room here, until I thought of that.."

The whitescale sith nods, patting Kira's knee then settling back so she can sink into her own chair. "If you wish it, one can be arranged. This is as close to the Temple as it can be. And, I will think on a way to share the food. It is too much for me and a great temptation, if others were to have some that would solve many problems."

Cryo is threading her tail back and forth between the rear chair legs. She gestures at the window of swirling abstract colours and patterns. "So, this one has been working on a few performance things, trying not to think of Her. Directly, at least. A story or two, and the song. I will have to speak with Mikilos, see if my impulse to contact the King of Light and Illumination might have some worth. I don't know what we might ask if we did, which would be the main reason to do so. Beyond curiosity." She glances at Kira's eyepatch, "even the 'friendly' Fae seem too dangerous for casual socialization and questions. Oh! Did you read my Crimson Pen story?"

Kira glances back at the table, briefly. "I don't think that even both of us could eat all of that... but I understand how you might want to try. It looks very appetizing." Looking back, her smile widens. "Stories? If they are anything like your singing, they must be wonderful." When she realizes where Cryo's glance is focused next, her smile dims. "I hope that the others are not like those I've met, though the ...wee folk? seemed very nice once if not trusting." A blink. "I didn't know that you sent a story, or that it was printed!"

"Well..." Cryo hangs her head, looks at her hands, "The Wee Queen asked for things... Merek's first born. He would have agreed if we had not convinced him otherwise. She still took things of importance to us. Sabina, had to give up the only token of her father. Zapolklenex was rendered unconscious and I have not heard of him since. I promised never to perform the Song of Spring they gave me, which was lovely and hopeful. We were trading for a child that wished to be with them, so even the Wee Queen felt entitled and her generousity was only if we gave something of equal worth..."

"These events did inspire me to write a story. It was the one about Mikilos, where he was hopelessly in love with the Fae Queen, kept pledging to her while his friends tried to rationalize him out of it. I wished to show him in a positive light so some might come calling. Perhaps I should have disguised it further rather than use his whole name. I believe it somehow upset Sandy also, although where she got the recent copies this one has no idea."

Kira blinks at the mention of Merek and his ... choices. She doesn't dwell on that and instead her smile swells at the memory of the wee ones. What she still has, that is. "I remember the wee ones, and the girl, and dancing..." Another thought makes her smile grow further. "I think that was one of the first times I travelled with you, Cryo."

Her mention of the tale of Mikilos strikes another memory, and she smiles less. "I think he mentioned the that tale when he gave a collection of books to the Queen of Air and Darkness. She only wanted ...pain, as gifts." Now it's her own hand that lifts to briefly touch her eyepatch.

The whitescale woman nods slowly, searching her memories. She stares out the window to nothing. "Were not the Vampires in Veyshan before that? It is so long ago for me. Hah! This one was young then. It is true, that was the first time we met as I am now. They were much more pleasant, it is true. This one was not in a good state then, it was... just after I learned my foundling had been killed. I had hoped to..."

She goes silent and gazes off, then shakes her head.

"No matter, this one feels much better now. He did? I don't remember getting a full explanation of all that transpired there. Some... other thing kept me away. Oh they were right, this one has been fickle in her effectiveness. I am barely held together. You lost your eye then, did you not?"

"I think that you were being treated for the plague about that time, too," Kira looks pained as she realizes that probbaly paled to ...everything else. "So much has happened, so quickly..." A silent nod follows. "Yes. That is when I gave my eye."

"Yes, that was it, the plague. It was an unpleasant experience." Cryosanthia says, sitting forward, "I am sorry you have been through so much. You caught the plague for me, and I wasted that sacrifice days later. I shall be more careful."

"Is this pursuit, safe, trying to contact the King? Or is it another disaster in the making? I am not sure what to ask. If he is insane, will his answer mean anything? That in itself is something strange. This one is so used to thinking of the Fae as being unchanging, and while I've been seeking a way to change Her, I've completely overlooked the King as an example. He would have the answer to 'what can change the nature of a Fae'. He blames the Sildanyari for doing so. He must know, that might be what drove him insane."

Kira reaches over to put a hand on the white sith's shoulder. "You didn't waste anything. I'm sorry that you had to suffer through it, afterall. I was already afflicted, and for some time. I had nothing to risk, and you had everything to gain."

She is quiet a moment. "I believe that they are not all like her... but they seem very much not like us. I think it would be dangerous, and maybe it isn't needed. Not yet? If nothing else is learned, then maybe we could.

Cryosanthia bobs her head again, lips curling in a smile. "I should ask Faran to follow me, and when I speak of Her to give me a whack so I stop. Condition the conditioning. It has been... so much... these last few weeks, so freeing. Everything before... you know... suffering unending. This one tries to think different, and I strugle. What else to fix my thoughts on, what to do? Meditating and seeking my memories in the hope I glean some new piece of information, it is still being so stuck in the past. How do I move on, what am I moving on to? This one has been locked into this for so long."

Kira leans over further so that she can give Cryo another hug. "I'm sorry that this has been ... so much. A week with her was terrible, and I can't imagine years. I know that you'll put her behind you..." She gives a squeeze. "I wish I could take that pain from you, help you to look ahead at everything that's better.

Cryo shudders and shakes her head, "No. Zeke did that, and... it did not go well. I must endure this somehow. Your presence assists. You would understand, I think, from your experience. One stops thinking of the future, or the past, and focusing on the moment and what's before you and what must be done. Remembering hurts, imagining a different future, becomes impossible. Comfort was rare... Zeke... Menel... tokens of friends. The sleeves Merek gave me, the gloves Delilah gave me, the ring that matched with Ezil's. Everything else, stone, suffering and She."

"This one wants spring to come! Melt, mind Melt! I think that's why I've focused on the King. This one wants Light, Illusion, in her life again. Kings go out and conquere, Queens sit in their courts like spiders in webs and wait for the world to come to them. Perhaps if the King was not insane he would whip all the Queens to shape. Ha! To imagine She, bending the knee." Cryo rambles, unaware of the irony. She turns back to Kira.

"This one is stuck in a rut, am I not?"

Kira releases her, mostly, straightening up to look to her. All so she can meet her eyes and nod, though she lowers her eyes after. "Zeke... He's all I could focus on. The only one I could, when I could."

But Kira shouldn't focus on all that, now. She's supposed to be helping Cryo and a big part of that is trying to look ahead. Cryo even just said so! She chuckles a little, suddenly, maybe at the idea of Her kneeling to anyone. Or at the rambling. Or even ruts. "I think you are wonderfully imaginative and creative. Maybe that is part of why you want to seek the King?" It might also explain why She seems to taken such a focus and dislike to Cryo, but Kira's not going to voice that thought aloud.

"Thanks!" Cryo sits straighter in her chair, wiggles in her seat and her tail behind her. She smiles, and while it is a toothy grin, it's done with her nose dipped so it seems cute in a way. She sighs happily, "I follow Ceinara, or try to, she of the pale green scales. You may have heard of 'Chasing the Green Fairy', or 'Chasing the Green Dragon', it is she they speak of. She has not been... helpful or supportive in the way that the Dragonfather has been for Zeke, or Eluna for Sir Seldan. I see no answer or signs from her when this one asks for help. At best a sense that she would say, 'well try to use your experiences to fuel your creativity'. To any prayer. Treat your demons by wearing them openly, inspire others so much by your catastrophies they act differently."

She continues to grin, "Not what this one hopes to hear when the plea is 'free me' or 'save me'. This one is not surprised there is no major temple to her in this district. This one imagines she would be too bored with a constant structure and rituals. I expect her shrines are the floorboards of stages and pubs, when they are not Tarien's."

Kira would never find Cryo showing teeth threatening, but the dipped grin is more cute than normal. "Well, she does sound much like you... or you like her. I'm not surprised. I think you've been very inspiring, whether your joy when things are their best or your perserverence when they're not. I'm ... a little envious that Ceinara favors you so," she admits. "Songs or tales or dance can bring joy to many, or ease away their pain for a time, so easily.

"Thank you, this one is glad some of it has worked." Cryosanthia sits back and sinks back into the chair, the cushions bulging almost absorbing her. "My Speaker trainer said that is what I should do, dance and make music, not talk so much. The stories sucked me in, all those Myrrish plays, with the flamboyant heroes. They talk a lot."

Kira leans back, herself. Despite being able to watch Cryo sink into the cushions, she startles a bit, once more, as she sinks in. "These chairs are ... very different from what I'm used to." Neither Sentinel nor Truthsayer traditions are much for excess, opulence, or even comfort. "I was enthralled by tales when I was younger. My tutor was very wise and worldly, and spoke of many intersting places and peoples."

Quite the runaround, lately. Things have happened on both ends, it seems, but at at least there's one thing taken care of. Mostly. Brae's search including bouncing between a couple of Temples and dealing with the clergy for snippets of story or directions. There's a bit of conversation near the indicated room, a query and answer before there's the sound of a shod fist rapping a pattern against the door before "Hey, Cryo, y'in there?" is called through.

Cryo has apparently, been willing to let herself indulge, or perhaps Mikilos was being generous and had some comforting ideas in mind. The chairs at least, allow one to feel very regal and important. Sturdy with strong arm rests that end in curiously carved knobs that allow for dramatic gripping. "What was the strangest you heard? To me the softskins were the most amazing, like the people but with their scales removed, was how my teacher described. I imagine humans to be these horrors! Near everything in Am'shere has scales if not a carapace or spines. Something that one could touch without injury was unbelievable."

Hearing the call the whitescale hauls herself out of the deep chair, approaching the door. "Braelnoir? Yes. This one is in, come in." Kira can't help but laugh a little. Not at Cryo, but at the tale. Of course, from the sith's perspective, Kira knows it makes perfect sense. Before she can comment, though, there's another visitor at the door!

Kira looses a surprised and excited "Oh! before trying to free herself from her own chair so she can follow towards the door. Another visitor is great. Braelnoir just makes it even better. "Hello!"

The door opens before the hooded figure steps on in, clad in familiar equipment, if her clothing is of a slightly new cut. As the woman, herself could be considered to be, truly. Her slightly unsteady gait has a little bit of extra sway, from so much time working under her previous formats. Pale skin, only just taking to something her former tan, all but unbroken, now, though as her armored hands rise to push her hood back and unleash an, especially for her, absolutely excessive amount of spun silver that pools and spills almost to the waist, even doubling back on itself as it does. She beams a warm smile at the two and spreads her hands in a "Do I clean up ok, or what?" before the quip coaxes her lips into a playful grin.

"You've been skinned!" Cryosanthia exclaims, though there is humour in her voice. She stares, and sniffs. Reaches out to touch the hair. So much hair! "It is you, but the knees! Your feet! Your scales! Your tail. Your face is flat!"

It's been a couple months for her friend, but for Cryo that time included her enjoying the Mistress' hospitality, so she has not seen this version of Braelnoir in decades. She makes an odd sort of chirp-warble and hugs her suddenly. "You are cured! Did it hurt?" She sniffs again, "You still smell... right, but much fainter. How did you get so much hair?"

Kira blinks. Twice. Does that make it a full blink? "Braelnoir??" She's never seen her with fewer than six limbs. Or a tail. Or... "You did it! You look wonderful!" She makes a point to point that out, first, though she's immediately drawn to the hair, too. "that is alot of hair. I'm a little envious."

Braelnoir laughs a little, "It's got the points I need, luv!" she grins, though she glances sidelong at the hand reaching for the silver tresses, "Yeah... Was bald last night, Morgan, old pal run inta me at the Fernwood last night, gave me a bit of some concoction. Grew 'bout a foot an hour as I slept, which was fine, 'cept I had t'do my eyebrows, too, so I woke up a huge ball of hair. Took hours t'cut it down. Couple wigmaker's made out like bandits. There'll probably be a new fashion, soon." She hugs her sister tight in return, "Dunno why it didn't come in black, though."

The query about the cure well, she glances at Kira for a moment, then draws back to look Cryo in the face, "Yeah... I definately broke the pegs with Elly's fishies. The form kept shiftin, an' I went back out in case the shifts got crippling, cuz they were gettin' pretty painful. The shift in the river was gettin' mild in comparison."

She smiles to Kira and steps in to give her a hug, too, "Thanks, luv! I still got two doses left from what she gave me. May wanna shave a'fore ya use it, first." Even as she reaches for a specific pouch on her belt, there is a shift of garments to her usual black corselet under the breastplate, "Here. A thin coat on the scalp a'fore ya go ta sleep, an' ya'll probably end up with about eight'r'nine feet. Didn't sound like there was a way to get a more measured result, just... dn't slop it on thick I guess."

Cryo backs away, in case that concoction can make hair grow on a sith. It's not something she wants to discover. "You have the tiny hairs on your arms, will those turn into ropes if you scratch before washing your palms? It is a good thing you do not have hair there!" She observes.

And observes, and observes. Stares, shakes her head, "It is remarkable. This one can still remember your other form, see it on top. You are bigger and smaller in places. Does you not miss the arms? The tail?" The sith, would most definitely miss her tail, she has said that quite often.

"Is Elly well? Did the fishes break the pegs then? How so if you lept out because the changes were strange? Did you become an ooze or... " She struggles to imagine what other changes might have occurred, "What did you experience?"

Kira blinks once more and holds up a hand to decline, shaking her head. "No, but thank you. I'm sure there are others who lack any hair, or might want to-Oh! Halani! She might want to use it." She then shifts back to Braelnoir with Cryo's questions. Kira's curious, too. "I would think you might miss the tail, too. I do, a little."

Braelnoir gives Cryo a quick look as she draws back, then glances to the container, then gives her sister a playful wink. The question brings her down a little bit, though, and she reaches her free hand out for Cryo's cheek, "I... couldn't stay there, Cryo." She wanted to, she'd said as much, "Elly's fine, her and Kami an Dar-!" Ahem. "There's a few stories, but... I understand there's been a couple stories, here, too."

Kira's response draws her attention again and she reaches out to put the container in her hand, "Give't to her when ya see'r, then, luv. Not sure when I will."

"This one understands," Cryosanthia nods, leaning into the touch on her cheek, "I could not stay something that was not me, no matter how much other's enjoyed. This one is glad to hear she's fine Durrankar? He has been training her, I guess..."

Her voice trails off as she thinks of the Warden of Mictlan, mostly Mictlan. "I wonder how the nestlings are doing, they must be overflowing now. Well, I will stay put, too much curiosity and She will decide a lesson must be taught. Someday it will be over. I thought of going to Am'shere, you could come with. You would be stung so much the scabs would become scales!"

She sways her hips a little, tail swishing from side to side, "This one has scrolls, this one can share the finest memories of her tail if you are ever longing for it again."

"Thank you," Kira is genuinely thankful... though she's also geuininely extremely careful with the jar. She makes certain that it's sealed tightly before putting it in her pack. Imagine if it happened to leak! Though, maybe it running down her back would help with worries of someone monitoring her...

The mention of Am'shere gets her attention from that thought quickly. The idea of stings and scabs makes her wince a little, and she's not sure whether to laugh a little or be moved by the charity of Crypo's offer of memory sharing. She doesn't say more, though, as the one present having never had a tail, or scales for that matter.

Braelnoir sighs, "No one's beautiful ferever." she says softly, then lets her hand come back down to her side, "Even if it wasn't comin' apart.... I couldn't stay like that with Ghisha an' yer Fae mouser out there." A little shrug and, "Elly said there's some kinda magic still in me though, mebbe some of it got stuck or something." She steps in from the door, still a little unused to the way her hair pulls on her scalp as it sways, "Anyway... I think curin' the pegs, at least what we did, made a new... me. No hair... an'... except fer m'brand." A shrug of the silver etched shoulder, "All my scars're gone. Had t'spike m'ear again t'put my earring back in."

"So you have moulted? A fresh skin to write new war stories upon!" Cryosanthia grins, moving around Braelnoir to look at her, even though most of it is covered by bodice and armour. "Odd that your brand stayed, but the hole in your ear did not. It was an odd colour even with your scales on."

The whitescale hold her chin contemplatively with her thumb and forefinger. She watched Kira carefully put the tin in her pack. "If that leaks you might grow a huge mane, like the primates, the Silverback gorillas! Or like the Hair-maiden, or a tail. HA! You should rub it over your mark, so you grow out a horse-tail and She cannot see. It would be quite remarked upon!"

Braelnoir nods, with a short chuckle, "Kinda did, actually." before looking to her shoulder, "Yeah... I mean at first, the first couple months the mark was just a regular scar, but.. after the river, it finally scaled over." She blinks at Cryo and looks to Kira on that one, "Well, that's one way t'get her off yer ass, I suppose." a little grin at her blush. To her question, though, she nods, "Can't cut it just yet, Mor wants a chance t'paint me with it this long. I'll... need a hand, braiding it, though. I haven't let it get all that long since I's bondsworn."

Kira is still focused on Brael's hair. "Will you keep it that long? You should tie it back or braid it, so that it doesn't get caught in-" Her words trail off fairly quickly at Cryo's imaginative and creative suggestions. They were just talking of her ties to Ceinara afterall.

"What?..." Kira turns to her, managing to both chuckle at the thought and have her face start to turn several shades more red. The color seems to stabilize, then Brael adds her comment. "I ... do you think that would keep her from seeing?"

The whitescale shrugs, holding up her hands, "I'm not sure. I wear my gloves almost constantly, they didn't prevent her hearing things that Faran was saying near me. All the gloves prevented was others seeing if the mark was glowing. This one hopes she saw only white fabric but I suspect it was more. Sir Seldan speculated it may be a stronger link, more than a scry focus. However, she might only see a braid, and it would be rejection of sorts. Symbolic. It would prevent others from requesting you show it to them."

She indicates the table with all sorts of food, predominantly fish, "Take some Braelnoir, come to the sitting room, we can discuss further. Perhaps it would be amusing to you Kira, attach a weight, it might feel like a tail proper then."

Kira considers several things, not the least of which is braiding hair or needing help to do it. This gives her face a moment or three to try and return towards its normal color. "I could help you braid it, if and when you wanted to? Please, get some food, though." She echoes Cryo's sentiment even if she's not the hostess.

As to herself, she decides, "I don't think I should try anything that ...rash. I don't know if that would be comfortable, and I definitely couldn't braid it myself. Some might find it a little... unnerving, maybe?" The last isn't quite as big a concern, though, as she adds, with a little amusment, "Not that anyone should be looking under my robes."

Braelnoir smiles a little, "I'd appreciate it, luv." she says to Kira, "Could always cut it off if ya don't like it. But there's is a bit o'sensitivity down that way, probably wouldn't be fun to'get a tug back there cuz ya stepped on it by accident." She nods to Cryo's offer and drifts toward the fish with a, "Yer a sweetheart, luv, I'm starvin'! So, what else's been goin' on?" The musing of the gloves gets, "So.. is it safe t'talk here?"

"This one is most interested in seeing hair braided! I have read lots about it. It is very bonding." Cryo takes a seat in her comfy chair, sinking in even though she sits on the edge. She nods to Kira's objections, "I can see it would be a strange thing to have when you are not used to it."

"This should be secure when the door is properly closed. Mikilos is relatively certain it is secure, we held our Tower rescue meeting in it. Oh! Kira! You would not have known. We invited all the Alexandrian Adventurers, and briefed them, and gave them the banquet. And... very few appeared to go with us to confront Her. Halani, was the only new face. Acedia also started wearing heavy armour, this one things she is becoming a knight or paladin. Regretfully... Darius was not there either. Although to be fair, we thought you in Hell with Merek and the Demon. We had no idea He handed you to Her. Also Braelnoir, worth noting, the way to get Adventurers involved in Alexandria is put out food to attract them and the monsters, otherwise they will never get together."

"It can be fun," Kira nods to Cryo, flashing more smile. "A chance to sit and talk while doing it. Much better than sitting in silence." She nods once more about Acedia. "Yes, I think she is formally an Aspirant, a Paladin in training."

Her smile flattens a fair amount after. "There's no way any of you could have known, but ... I think I'm glad that He sent me there. I haven't seen Darius since that day, in the market. The plague was still rampant, though, and he has his daughter to look after. They may have left the city. I had told him, just before, that she was his family; that he should always put her first, in all things. That meant taking better care of himself, so that he could be there for her."

Braelnoir blinks, "Wait, Ace is doin' what, now?" she asks somewhat confused. She brings a palm to her face for a moment, almost dropping her fish, but sighs, "This is..." She shakes her head, "Alright, that's good t'know if I never need that kind of support, thank you." She considers the chairs a moment, and her accessories, then sets the meal down to start laying her weapon belts and baldric beside the chair so she doesn't ruin her sister's upholstery. "I put some feelers out on Merek... haven't heard anything, yet." She glances to Kira, "Aika's gotten big since I got shiney. He's gonna'ave his hands full with her." She settles into the chair after taking up her meal again, wincing some as her head tips upward suddenly. She makes several adjustments to get free of her predicament, then settles again and seems a little unaccustomed to how much she's sinking into it. "This is a really.... soft chair....?"

"Ha! Yes!" Cryo pushes herself back into hers, sinking into cushions that surround her. "Mikilos was effusive when this one asked for nice things!" The sith happily wriggles in place, nodding to the both of them. "I agree, I would not Adventure if I was the only one the youngling had. We handle our offspring differently, they are not long with the nest-mother, and the sire may or may not be there, depending. The Castes take over the role of raising."

She exhales, taking up her food, which is her tuna steak sandwhich. "I recall reading some Explorer's Guild records of Darius' exploits. I remember being angry that he brought Aika along, and things got dangerous and the group had to rescue her. I think now of all the times my mind has been swayed magically and the group had to rescue me. Perhaps I saw myself in her and was angry at that, all these years I must still be herded like a child. No wonder..."

The whitescale waves her hand, shaking her head, "No matter. I'm glad you seek a solution for Merek. He... was not well. I told you I thought his horns were growing in?"

That brings Kira's smile back. "Yes, Aika seems a handful, but she seems a wonderful girl. I'm very pleased that Darius wasn't blinded. She would've had to care for him, and that would be even more difficult."

Her smile remains at mention of Merek, though thinly as she nods. "Merek wasn't well, though I still wish I could've done more for him."

Braelnoir looks to Cryo as she explains Sith family life, "We ain't all that different, sis." she says thoughtfully, "You told me his saddle was slippin', but I saw some o'that the last time we's all together." There's a bite of her food, the flavor of which seems to surprise her, and she chews with some gusto, swallows, then, "I'm... hopin' t'find a way out fer'm. Even if I pull it off, somehow, he's gonna be a bigger mess'n when he went in."

Cryosanthia listens, taking another bite of her sandwich, then washing it down with her strangely coloured drink. She crosses her ankles, leans forward, "It is true. I was not in a good state to help him, then his mind went. Potatoes." She shakes her head again.

"I can't think of happier things to discuss. I have a pool, and it is enjoyable. I've been working on a song. I... no, that is a worse and stupid idea, and I'm not sure what it would accomplish."

"I would like to help him, still," Kira notes, a bit more brightness and even hope in her smile. "We, or others, might free him, if we could only find him." She has concerns of the state he might be in, but returning him, in whatever state, would still be a service to him. Her attention shifts to Cryo. "What is it? Do you mean the song for the King?"

Braelnoir sighs and reaches out to Cryo, "Hey, now... wasn't like I was a lotta use, there, either, luv. Just gotta... own it, an' if I get'm loose, mebbe we can set things t'right." The talk of a song brings a twinkle of mirth to her eyes, "I sung one at th'Fern last night. Morgan started things off, then, kinda dropped the gauntlet t'me, wish ya coulda seen it! Thought I did ok, though maybe the punchline wasn't the best idea't that time." She reorients her meal for another bite, pausing for, "Elly an Kami are doin' alright fer themselves, it seems." she tries on the 'happier things', then, "What kinda idea would that be?" When Kira chimes in, she simply parrots, "King?" Browarch.

"No... no... that is not my worst idea." Cryo says, looking down at her lap, "I had an idea to ask Mikilos to let me re-create what I remember of the Tower's lower levels. I have no idea why. I feel I missed something, or that seeing it again might shake something loose. I think... if actually being there did not, a simalcrum would not help either..."

The sith looks up, "The King of Light and Illusion, the insane Fae King, to see if I could attract his attention, ask him things. Though the best questions I can think of are what happened to Her, and is it possible to change Fae nature, and how. His price is also... a little personal, making it doubly risky. I have nicknamed him King Knickerssnatchers, it gives you an idea."

Kira promptly starts shaking her head, maybe even before she's realizing she's doing it. "We don't need to see that again, Cryo..." At least the sith seems to think that was her worst idea. Kira would probably agree. She shifts to the other idea, though. Familiar with it some, but not completely. "Oh, I thought that was his name..."

Braelnoir arches an eyebrow at Cryo, "Tactically sound. Ya wanna pull up any info ya got on this Queen an'er toys." She glances to Kira as she states her point, "If being there again didn't help..." she shrugs. Sigh, and she looks back to Cryo, "Sounds familiar. Even if he deals in good faith, how're gonna trust'is word if he's head's not on straight?"

"The King of Light and Illusion is his name, snatching knickers from maidens, and other things, is more his prediliction." Cryo offers with an awkward grin, then leans and looks over at Braelnoir. She exhales, "I don't know. I... I guess I was intrigued, by his name. It sounds like he makes fantastical things, tells stories. And it's a little romantic, the idea that he might appear, walking down a street with you as you approach sunset and are whistling a tune. It seemed whimsical, friendly, even if he attempts seduction. I expect he is somehow nasty, like the others."

The white sith clasps her hands together, "My thoughts were, to write a nice song, one easily hummed and sung. Get a few bards together, get someone willing to play the King. All of us make a procession of celebration at sunset, to make him envious of the attention and jealous that there is an ursurper, see if that prompts him. How he will be helpful after antagonized, this one is not sure. The hope is, more song and dance prevails? Was that not Lanier's joke once, challenging the Demon Duke to a dance off?"

"Oh." That's Kira's comment to the clarification of the King. She knew something of him and Cryosanthia's plan, before. Now she re-affirms her opinion. "If he is known to be disturbed, he probably wouldn't be any more ... nice than the other fae royalty. I don't think it's a good idea, not unless there are not other ideas or options. I'll help, but I don't know how helpful I can be. I didn't know the wee folks' words, and the Queen of Air and Darkness was... very unsettling."

Braelnoir takes all this in with the sort of thoughtful, intent look she affords certain conversations. Gears are turning, synapses burning, though the tale of Lanier's antics does put an eyebrow to a high point, "Seriously?"

"It was the first time the demon appeared near the fountain. He insulted his mother then asked him to dance." Cryo wobbles her head, "It was amusing. However, he decined. They all have not been too much helpful."

The white sith sighs, "perhaps I should not bother. Let the others handle it since they were so dismissive of my efforts and thoughts. I negotiate, I sing and dance. This seems to need people who can blow spells through the fabric of reality to another plane and chew gum at the same time."

Kira reaches for the sith's hand. "Cryo... I'm sorry. The -idea- is wonderful. If anyone could get the attention of one with song and tales, it would be you. I just think now isn't the best time to try it, that's all." She doesn't want her discouraged, but maybe it's too much thinking, planning, or what could bes? "Maybe we could do something else, for now? Another swim? I enjoyed the last one, and it was much too short."

Braelnoir nods and reaches out to Cryo's hand with her own, "Dancin' comes up a lot, I noticed. He's been there fer me a couple times. He's solid. Just glad his gift didn't end up with me engaged to one a'yer fae." she says quietly. "There's a fight ya throw bodies at, an fights ya send the best at. Just like ya'don't slash a black slime. Or loosen screws with a hammer." She nods to Kira's words, "Yer a great one fer dance an' song, luv... probly the best I'll ever know." She looks to the other woman then back to her sister, "I'd like t'swim with ya proper, now that I can? I'll try not t'screw it up like the last time." she says with a wry grin.

Cryo looks up as her hands are taken, one by each. She smiles, "Yes! Let's swim, that will be great. You should come too, Braelnoir. The pool is warm and much longer so laps are possible, and it is good for soaking. I might try a long nap in it tonight. It is not so deep you'd worry, not like the river."

The whitescale stands, raising the others to their feet with her. "Swimming after eating helps the digestion. There may even be bathing clothes if Mikilos was being complete. If not I can lend you my sleeves Kira, Braelnoir has her own. Merek made them both. It is this way. It is for sure the best thing to be doing now. I agree."

And she leads them to the pool, and they swim, and it was great.