Box of Wine

Log Info

• Title: Boxed Wine and Chandliers
• Emitter: Cryosanthia
• Characters: Cryosanthia, Sabina, Kira, Braelnoir
• Place: A10: Temple of Althea
• Time: Tuesday, June 09, 2020, 2:10 PM
• Summary: Cryosanthia has arranged her room like a swashbuckler's paradise, with balconies and chandliers everywhere, and the only way to access them is by climbing curtains or other acts of derring do. Sabina arrives, with Lord Emp, and is hauled up to one by holding onto a curtain. The two women talk, and Cryo explains how languages shape thought for her, and how tradespeak allows for more flexibility when draconic tends to be very ridgid and well defined. The Tarien cleric suggests she break some of her conditionning by mocking Salina and using unflattering titles. Cryo concedes this is a good idea, and that she feels she can vary her impulse to say 'Mistress' into a 'Miss something', as she'll be unable to stop the instinct to say it completely but will have the mind to redirect the second syllable. Sabina says is she fails, she'll get a poke. They speak of stories and lives, Sabina tells Cryo she is not a book. Cryo lists off things she has considered relevant to the fight against Salina, which she can't explore currently. The possibility of the surgical removal of Cryo's mark is discussed. Kira arrives, and finds a secret stairway. Kira tells of Zeke's careful words. Braelnoir arrives, and she shares details of her troubles with Ghissha.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  Appearing, in Order  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Cryosanthia  6'9"     267 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
Sabina       5'4"     130 Lb     Human             Female    Tsuran woman of dark hair and green eyes
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 room has been given to Cryosanthia. Visitors are asked to knock at certain times. After which the door opens by itself on a seemingly empty room, with a shimmering within the threshold. A disembodied scaled hand reaches out, floating at arms height and reaching around. The white scales and carefully trimmed thick nails betray it as Cryosanthia's. Taking it, one is pulled forward.

Into...

A vastly larger space that seems to be a banquet hall, except none were ever designed like this one. It's tall, a vaulted ceiling that goes up three floors. Around the walls are far more balconies than are necessary. All seem precisely the length and width suitable for rapier duels. There are a tremendous number of chandliers, held by ropes that tie off conveniently near each platform. As well, between the balconies are long curtains. There seem to be no stairs, although several of the balconies appear to open on other areas and there's a strong saltwater scent as if a large body of it is nearby. In the middle is a huge table, laden with food, most of which is fish, fruit, or vegetables. Large dramatic wine glasses are everywhere, their bowls full of various coloured liquids.

Cryosanthia herself is wearing her swashbuckling gear, light white leathers over a mithril chain shirt, with a short cape and skirt, both of which have a shiny, satin interior which is the palest of blues. She exclaims with a smile, "Sabina! This is a great surprise! This one was expecting Kira. How are you? Thank you for visiting me?"

Sabina with Lord Emp included are brought forth and look about the room with a smile. "Ahh! It's just like durring the secret meeting. I can see why it's been put here. Clever." She says before turning to reguard Cryo. The Tarienite takes her time with the inspection of the Sith. "Hello silly lizard. I've heard rumors that I found hard to believe until I come here and find you in a magical palace. Please...please tell me you did not try to harm yourself as I also heard?" She says before stepping in to hug Cryo without warning.

"I... did..." Cryo can't blush, but she does dip her head and look away to the side, as her tail curls in. She sounds embarassed and contrite. She returns the hug, holding Sabina firmly, she's solid and strong. She has both hands and they look fine, so she wasn't successful. "Kira prevented me, with her Paladin's Sacrifice, and Faran and Auranar restrained me. Her... blood smell snapped me out of it, the thought I'd injured a friend... it seemed to make sense, but I was beyond desperate."

The sith smiles awkwardly, "This is the better solution. I'm making the best of it I can, like the meeting, yes. Mikilos has been very patient and generous. It has allowed me to relax. Although my thoughts are not the best to be alone with. I have to keep myself distracted."

Bina chuckles and shakes her head. "Silly.. SILLY! I am glad to see you well though." She glances around Cryo at her tail. "Straighten that tail out now. I like to see it when it swishes back and forth rapidly. It tells me you're happy and excited. Or when something arrouses you?" She grins wide and winks from behind her mask. Then she steps around Cryo and pulls Lord Emp from her shoulder and sets him on a bench near the table. "But as for distractions.. well that I can do. I'm the very picture of a grand distraction!" She says while striking dramatic stage pose. "Don't you think?"

"It ah... ah? Perhaps..." Cryo is looking to the side again, which is more a gesture than actually looking away, as one of her eyes is still very visible. She does look at the peacock and grin, "Emperor Indulgence! Please eat some of the food. I've had to install the balconies so I have exercise, it is hard to sit beside this all day. You are the Grand Distraction. You shall have to give me tips. I think I've gone from Distraction to Trap, and am not sure it is an improvement."

She gestures upwards, "The balconies are for swashbuckling and feats of derring do, if that was not obvious."

Bina ahhs softly and nods. "I can understand how you get from one to the other. Now.. there's a trick to it? First is to keep busy like you've already started to do. The second is to think, not that this is a trap, but your lair." She motions around at the room and grins. "This is your lair, my dear dragon. You control all that goes on within. This is your treasure to protect and or share. Your place to plot and scheme against your foes."

"Ha!" Cryo blinks, as if struck by that thought. "I had not considered it that way. I had expected my lair to be more icy. Perhaps... less dignified." The whitescale looks around, nodding contemplatively, flickering out her tongue. "This one could ask for the Ice Lair tomorrow. It would not be cold, most of the effect could be done with glass. I shall ensure not to make the stalagmites too sharp."

She smiles widely, "shall we have seats, plot a scheme? The chairs are on that second balcony. The food has to be carried or thrown up." Indeed, a lot of the fruit looks like it would be great in a food fight, the nice size for a missile or to be skewered on a rapier while in flight.

Bina laughs and nods. "Fine ideas. And yes I'll plot and sit with you if you like. But unless there are steps up to the balcony you're going to have to assist me up and down, I think." She says with a grin. "And perhaps you can tell me what got into your head as to why your hand was such a evil thing that it needed to be removed? There must have been a better process to gain you what you wanted. Without leaving us all behind?"

GAME: Cryosanthia rolls acrobatics: (14)+9: 23

"It's easy! Just untie a chandlier and let it haul you up. Don't stand beneath." Cryo bounds over to one of the walls and fiddles with the rope, then holds on as the chandlier drops and she's hauled into the air. Swinging across the chamber she lands on the railing of a balcony opposite, then drops down onto it in a ready position, with a sweeping flare. "Is it not?"

The white lizard peers down over the side. "Perhaps not. Hold onto the curtain, wrap yourself in it, this one will haul you up."

Being higher and far away might give her the extra confidence for the next things she says. "It has Her mark, and she scrys on me, and this has caused untold suffering and death. Even if they are Her actions, where I am allows her eyes, ears. She hurts those closest to me. She will send demons to catch me, and they will cause destruction where I am. I am a bomb with an unknown fuse she lights. I need to be away. My presence endangers."

Sabina is silent while she works on wrapping herself up safely and pondering the Sith's worries. "Perhaps that's not an unfounded worry, Cryosanthia. But removing yourself from our presesnce only assists /her/. Makes it easier for you to be caught and taken to her or killed. And for those of us that know and like you we don't find that option very appealing." She looks up at Cryo and smirks. "Thus why so many tried so hard to stop you and many still are helping you now?"

Cryo watches Sabina bundle herself up, nodding. "Hold tight." White hands with long fingers eagerly reel in the curtain, lifting the Tarien Cleric. The sith is strong, and it's not soon before she firmly lifts Sabina onto the balcony for her. As the others, there's enough space to do some fencing, or perhaps leap for a chandlier. Through an archway is a small alcove room which is also fashioned like a balcony although it has a half-moon shape, and beyond the railing is a wall that curves up into a domed ceiling, all of which have a swirling, shades of sky-blue. Out the corner of the eye, it resembles being outside.

The white sith sinks into an oppulently soft armchair, the cushions nearly devouring her. "What you say is true, and I'm sorry for making you worry. I felt no one cared. Seldan's words were harsh, but not inaccurate. My... no... and the... this one is trying to change her thoughts. It's a struggle. I am grateful, for your friendship, what you are doing. Your insights."

Bina unwraps herself and brushes her dress out and gives Cryo a small nod and a caring look. "I don't mean to brow-beat you. I'm sure you've heard similar things from others. And I can't say that our way of thinking is similar to Sith thinking or not. But we do care. I do." Shetoo moves over and sits down into a seat and is almost swallowed up. She flails comicly for a moment and laughing finds a better way to sit comfortably. "As for insights? I hope I offer you some."

Cryo grins, watching Sabina struggle. The chairs have a half-moon shape in the back, which she's wiggled her tail through, and by the way she rocks in her seat it is likely swaying out of sight. "This one tries to think like all the languages I know, the dragon's, the softskins, the Fae and the dead one. Most..." she hesitates, "whooshy thinking is easiest in Tradespeak. You are very adaptable. Sith thinking is a thing is so, or not so, or both one and the other or half and half. Words for uncertainty, are few. 'Presumably', 'Sometimes', 'Generally', the caveat words lack. The Draconic dragons speak does not have pleasantries, politeness, well... begging and such does. Few true dragons see another dragon as an equal, it is either stronger or weaker and one acts accordingly. Sith-makar added all the social terms to draconic, and yet we it still makes a ridigity in mind."

Cryo exhales and reaches for a glass that isn't there. She looks at the empty table. "Next time I shall set all the food and drink on the balconies, and below shall be a pool. I wonder how to get the Mistress out of my mind. To break her conditionning, to call her Mistress. It flows like water downhill so easily."

"I have never been conditioned? At least I do not think I have. But to me the breaking of calling her one thing is the same as your explination of thought process and language? Mistress is something one would call to your superrior. Someone you owe allegence too? Do you still owe /her/ anything? Did you ever owe here anything at all to begin with? If the answers are no then she can no longer be your mistress and can be then thought of as something else. Like.. " Bina pauses her talking to truely ponder good terms and names. "Bitch. Eternal demon mind. Heartless monster. Whore of disasters." She glances at Cryo out of the cornor of her mask and grins. "Be creative."

"This one has had a long time, every day, being polite and calling her Mistress. Those other names are good," The white sith grins rather toothily, "Bitch! Eternal Demon! Heartless Monster! They are apt, they are right. I am resisting decades. It is like... not pulling your hand away from flame. It will hurt if you leave it; it will hurt if I do not call her Mistress. She made a new instinct for me, and these are strong in the people."

Cryo exhales, rubbing at her horns, stretching her head upwards, "The answers, No. I offered to help, not pledge allegiance. After what she did to me, my compatriots, my friends and their family, my... to Zeke, No. No to both. She seems very pleased with how she trained me, this was terrible discipline. No, I went to negotiate, find commonality, was instead conscripted and enslaved. Offering to do so was a mistake, this one wishes she had not. This one could call her Mistake. It is close enough when I start to say Mistress I could change the second syllable."

Bina smiles broadly and nods, easing back into the seat carefully lest she be swallowed again. "And that would be a perfect start! Miss Steak." She says giggling as she cuts it into two words. "If I hear you call her mistress I'll poke and prod you to remember and call her as she really is? To be helpful.. not out of some sort of sick game on my part or anything?" ,the Tarienite priestess says with a laugh. "People as good as you do not need to respect a creature as evil as she, Cryosanthia." Bina adds on at the end with a more sober tone.

Cryo nods eagerly, grinning, "Yes, that is a fine idea. You have my permission. I shall tell Kira, Auranar and Faran too. I would tell Braelnoir, but she would want to punch or wrestle me, which has been fun, but is distruptive to normal life." She crosses her ankles, sitting forward. "I shall call her Miss Take, Miss Treacles, Miss Tallywackers or Mistake, whichever comes to mind. Yes!

"And, thank you. You are right. I'm ... not sure I'm not evil, in some ways. I helped her, I copied her. Ice Dragons are not pleasant beasts... I have a core... Sir Seldan and Malik explained how selfish I am, bad and dangerous for Zeke, and he agreed. They are all smarter and wiser, and Sir Seldan is a paladin... I must take their accusations seriously. I'm glad you think otherwise."

Behind the mask Bina's eyes narrow. "Wait. What? Seldan and Malik told you you were evil?" She tries to parse this statement and ends up not being able too. "You're going to have to explain to me how that could be. What exactly did he..they say?" ,she asks with her tone begining to have a small edge to it. Her smile a touch mroe ferral.

"Not so much evil as an idiot, which Malik seems to view as the same, as well as compromised, still Her slave. Unremorseful, unthinking, risking innocents and the efforts against her. Of a like mind, that I think like her, which would be to say my thoughts are evil. It was after the Miss...Taker sent Yukia to recapture me. My judgement for speaking to her and all other acts were called into question. Zeke joined them, I had to acquit myself alone then he left with them because I was too dangerous to be around, he would not be able to protect me alone and they seemed unwilling to assist him."

Again, the whitescale reaches for a glass that isn't there. She sits forward, looking at the table. "Should this one huzzah us up some food and drink? This is not something I want to think long on. I tried to when last we were swimming, and the thoughts spiraled. The conclusion to leave and remove my hand happened soon after."

Sabina's jaw tightens as Cryo goes on but the smile remains in place. She nods slowly and makes a motion to Cryo. "Please. By all means do as you wish too. Move about." She says with a small laugh and then falls into a brooding silence. Her fingers comeing up to interlace with each other and elboes planted on either side of her body.

Lord emp flaps up from below and raises his tail up and fans it out giving out a cry. Sabina shushes him softly but does not speak even then. A foot taps quietly on the balcony floor.

Cryosanthia launches out of her chair, springy on her feet, has a wide grin with her nose dipped, better to hide fearsome teeth. "You look evil when you do that, steepling your fingers. Can this one hear your evil laugh? I shall be below, when you hear 'huzzah' be prepared to catch food."

Then, with more agility than one might expect for her size, she's flipped over the balcony and there is a quiet thump on the ground. This is followed by some clanking and shifting of plates, finally shouts, "Huzzah!" A basket of fruit, with a wine bottle jammed in. "Huzzah!" A roast of meat. "Huzzah!" A pineapple, all come sailing up over the balcony. There is a pause, a familiar squawk, "Be ready, this next one is delicate!"

Bina breaks out of her thoughts in time to catch the first bits of food. The pinapple she half catches but drops but gets it on the plate quickly. The basket gets her vocal with a loud 'eep!' as well as the roast. She laughs again and rearanges everything the best she can. "An evil laugh? Perhaps soon. Sort of goes against my faith. But given the right situation.."

"Be ready! Fly Emperor Exclusive!" There's another squawk, a fluttering of wings and Emp's becrowned head, then the rest of him, pop up over the balcony into 'Bina's face. Belatedly, Cryo warns, "Do not catch with a knife, it is not food."

There's a bit more clattering below, then the choice of ascent is the curtain, which the white lizard climbs as if she was a much smaller kind, rapidly and efficiently. She steps off, onto the balcony, and whips a few plates, glasses, cutlery, and other things best not thrown out of her haversack and sets them on the table. She isn't breathing hard, and the exercise seems to have done her well. "We should hold off on the evil laughter then, until an appropriate occasion. A street play, perhaps. Oh scales, that was so long ago, Svarshan and I acted out some of 'The Sword in the Boulder' and this one was the evil antagonist." Cryo flumps back into her chair, this time a glass is in reach, so she takes it.

Bina catches and settles Emp down next to her and then takes her own seat again as Cryo settles things out of her pack. "I would hear about that. You seem drawn to stories and plays. Those types of things and I would learn why. But first I have a question to ask you if I may?" She looks to Cryo before continuing on. "What are the things you wish for your life right now. The top.. three things?"

Cryo sits up straight in the chair, even as she's sinking into it. The empty glass forgotten in her hand. She blinks, her eyelids have a pale glacial blue to them. "I... don't know. I..." She touches her hand to the little bag she wears around her neck. "These are friends, that died on my first mission. I keep them close so I can remember them, and hope to bring some back. I did finally, Rocky! My big brother, he is very big. I want Her, the Mistake, to cease causing misery. If it is reform or death, I care not which, but neither will undo her tragedies. I wanted my memories back, but now they have returned, they are not the source of her undoing or a source of strength."

She exhales, "all undoing the past. These are not goals achievable, and they are not about me. The thoughts that trap me are all, what plan might work, what unknown remains unexplored, what thread left. How does the story end? Who gets a happy ending?"

"I want to leave a mark. To do something and be someone worth remembering. This is not a small, easily swallowed goal that can be held in the hand. I don't know what I wish for my life right now."

Sabina nods slowly as Cryo speaks, truely listening to waht the other woman has to say and trying to understand it as Cryo does. "Cryosanthia. As a seeker of stories, one of Tarien's tenents, I have learned there is a difference between a story and a life. Life happens and will often create a story to be told again later and enjoyed. But a story can not truely be lived. Life is experience. Do not think of yourself as a story that is over or could be over for you sell yourself short because of it." She reaches over for the bottle of wine and uncorcks it, pouring herself a glass and then offering to fill Cryo's "To leave a mark you must know what you want for yourself. Perhaps that seems selfish but when you find out what you want then the mark you leave will be deeper and less hollow then that of a tale to tell."

The whitescale nods slowly, leaning forward so her glass is filled. She nods again when it reaches and appropriate volume. She settles but does not take a sip, "I wish I had wings, because swimming is fun, and doing the same through the air over cities would be fun. I wanted to be a dragon. It seemed, more noble, in Am'shere, before I found more out on their natures, and heard that mages can change themselves here as a lark. It made the idea of the experience seem hollow, as you say. A nest, eggs, hatchlings, these are the expected things, I have expected them and believe I would enjoy them."

She sinks backwards, and sinks and sinks into the chair. "This one spoke with Kira about some of it. Ceinara mostly, whom I somewhat follow and who somewhat says things of mild helpfulness. Mostly, use your pain for ideas. It ties back to the stories, in Am'shere there are columns, this person did this. That is the summary of their life, they are celebrated. I would wonder, how did they think, feel? Then I found the softskin books, that explain all the thinking and feeling in much great detail! This was amazing! My curiosity satisfied but not satiated! I had to know more, when I found some were based on real people, this one wanted to know how the lived actions turned into the stories. What is cut, what is kept. It's fascinating, who and how people choose to be, every day."

"You're not a book, Cryosanthia. You're not a story yet. You're a thinking and feeling being. And if I had to guess then one of your desires for your own life...for yourself is to become a tale told one day to others. Your obsession with the Crimson Pen. Of the stories that you've read. Once you become a story or part of a story then you can compare yourself to the storey and answer your questions. So set that to the side for now." Bina sips from her glass and continues to watch Cryo intently. "Think about it for a moment. What are the most important things in your life? What desires do you have for them? For yourself."

"I want her gone. I want to think about something besides Her, Her plans, Her minions, Her actions, Her tragedies. I want the Tower in the past, and a thing of strength, and not a constant prison I'm yo-yo'd back in. I want the possibilities back. I want the wonder. I want to enjoy winter again. I like snowflakes!" Cryo holds up her left hand, with the brand deep in it, "I thought I had made peace with it. I like snowflakes, but it is Her. HER. HER. To even escape I have to imprison myself."

Bina lets the quiet go one after Cryo's empassioned outburst and then nods smiling. "And that is truely something you want for yourself. Congradulation! You wish to take back the meaning of your life for yourself. To take back your enjoyment of your life and the simple sign of a snowflake for yourself. And /those/ are worthy self goals and things to chase after." She goes quiet long enough for another sip of whine and continues. "Now. Lets talk about how to get you out of your self-made prison."

Cryo straightens her neck, she exhales, her breath is cool and visible, "this one is getting worked up, but, those are true words. I want life without her. I cannot overestimate the weight of years. Every memory of myself I have four with her in it."

The sith sinks back, the glass held to her lips. She takes a long, delicate sip. Then, she flickers her tongue in the wine a few times, her nose pressed against the rim of the glass.

"To reach this goal, she must be gone. Being unable to scry on me is a step. If it is a week more, then my sinister hand is not much of a concern. Faran looked into anti-scry magic items, but they are easily overcome. She would. So it returns to the plans to eliminate her. Seldan and the others do not want me involved because I am the liability, so, I must investigate things they are not. This leaves... the longshots."

Cryo holds up her hand and starts ticking the air with fingers, "One, the Demon Duke, too dangerous and we have been advised to let him lie many times.
"Two, Silvermoon, which summoned the Demon, and was the source of the event that destroyed her village; they look into that.
"Three, there are still oozes in the sewers and the water system, but the Demon Duke is down there, it is not safe. Beyond pouring in salt or soap, there is no safe task. The magic is spent, hopefully is not rebuilding.
"Four, Might She still have a reserve?
"Five, The construction of the summoning circle beneath Alexandria has not been explored. That might be a document research, find some master architech who involved themselves, that was not Zehier or Salina.
"Six, The person who imported the Ooze in the first place, had a wife that turned into a vampire, that has not been followd up upon.
"Seven, there was a boy brought to the tower, who met an older version of himself. It was not clear if they were both true, if one was a construct. I believe the older one was. So, there may be some bloodline issues at play. Tracking all those who were taken to the tower, returned, some useful relationship might show itself.
"Eight, there were weird constructs in the sewers, but again, the sewers are too dangerous to explore currently.
"Nine, some Orcs and Elves were fed the ooze and it took over their minds. They rampaged, destroyed some farms.
"Ten, some of the ooze pools may still exist in the woods, so those could be followed up on, the farms re-investigated.
"Eleven, the other two Fae monarchs have not been spoken to, King Knickerssnatchers and the Queen of the Slugs. I was working on a song for the King. Although, this one has no idea what information or help they might provide. I will admit I was curious to meet an insane king, but it seems more reckless than anything.
"Twelve, the ice Demon is being used, and she seems less powerful than the Demon Duke. She was nearly destroyed when she came for me, a proper trap would eliminate her, incrementally weaking the Mistress. The Mistake! The Mistake!
"Lucky Thirteen, we could get a few of the marked in here, experiment with spells on the mark, seek to understand it's nature. Discover if it is possible to cast spells back through it on She. This could be a great undoing, if we organize a library of mages to all cast on the marks and her at the same time."

Obviously, she had to set her glass down at five, ran out of fingers at ten, used her tailtip for eleven, and then the toes had to get involved. She waggles her outstretched foot at 'Bina and giggles.

Bina listens with her smile glowing and nods as Cryo lists things off one by one. For the most part this is all brand new information and she heeds it well. She too giggles as the toes are wiggled at her and then shakes her head. "Now that is more like the Cyrosanthia that I know. And I agree that the bitch needs put down. Digging into information is a good way of spending your time. A good way to turn this into a lair rather then a prison. And spell casting back through the marks while an interesting idea, makes me fearful of a reprisal through them and apon you." She stands up and walks slowly to the balcony rail and leans apon it. "What about removal of the sign rather then the removal of your hand? Performed by a skilled churgion of course. You hand in a lead box?" She peers over her shoulder at Cryo and gives her a pondering look. "Have you thought about writing this up as a historical story? I might give you a chance to do the reasearch and get all the facts together straight and in order as you go."

"I had some notes... they burned..." Cryosanthia looks off to the side again. Her tail makes it up into her lap and ends up holding the tailtip. With her left hand, oddly enough, as her right as the glass. "She cut down to the bone, marked the bone. This one was more special to her than most, perhaps. I don't believe it can be removed without being maimed. It is something I've discussed with friends, but not explored. The lead box would not be sufficient. Even inside the handy haversack, scrying is not so much prevented as the objects to view are my clothes. Perhaps some special glove could be fashioned, I'll ask Mikilos."

The sith smiles hopefully again, "I'm not skilled enough for theoretical spellwork, so perhaps casting on the marks is best left of others to determine. Oh, I did forget another lead, it was talking spiders! This would interest Faran greatly, although I think all the spiders were killed."

"I could re-do my notes. I have been working on a song for the King. Trying not to think what the others said. His name intrigued me, and his story. He may be of no use though."

Bina grins at this last bit. "So you're writing a song. That is good, even if it's not needed. As for what Seldan and the others have said.. I think I need to go find the paladin and speak to him about a few things. Malik is Malik and I do not know him well. Zeke.. I think I would speak to Zeke as well. Yes...Yesss." She says softly and takes a sip of wine to savor the taste. "Redoing your notes would help you order your mind? As well as printed versions could go out to all to make sure everyone knows the same things. More likely to get new pieces of infromation that way too."

Cryosanthia bobs her head in response to Sabina's words. She curls in a little more and pushes back into the chair. Her voice is quiet. "I don't know what to say to Zeke. I don't know what I want to say." Silence lingers afterwards, broken only by the sound of her slurping wine.

"Do you wish to swing from chandliers? Fence without stepping in food on the banquet table? There are some basics I can show, easily mastered!"

"I will make the notes again, that's a good idea."

Bina laughs brightly and shakes her head. "I've come to the realization that i'm not set up to be the dance across the table-tops kind of woman. Swing from a chandliers is a possability but likely to fall hard apon my posterior and look very foolish." She laughs for a while more and then sighs. "And thinking about what you wish to say to each of those people who spoke badly of you would be a wise thing to think apon too, Cryosanthia."

"Maybe the floor should be water..." Cryo is saying to herself, pondering Sabina's concerns about falling. Everyone should swing from a chandlier once in their lives. Her head jolts up, "Yes? Tell them things? Oh... oh I should think on things to tell them."

Now, if she is not trying to push herself into the seat-cushions, she might be attempting to push herself out the hole in the back. Her voice is quiet. "This one has nothing to say to Malik. Can think of few things to say to Sir Seldan beyond no, I do not forgive him for starting to draw on me. Zeke..."

She mumbles something unclear.

Sabina removes herself from the railing and places the wineglass on the table. Then without warning she jump up and apon Cryo so that her face is half a foot away fro mthe retreating Sith. A wild grin on her face as she asks, "What was that?! I can't hear you! If it's important enough to mumble it's important enough to hear." She says with a sing-song voice and then laughs.

Cryosanthia is surrounded by cushions and Sabina. Her pupils are wide, not full panic, but they're a lot larger than the slits she's normally observed having. "If I speak to Zeke it will be over. He agreed with Seldan, he was afraid of me and left with Seldan, He touched Seldan. The things they said... this one is not good for Zeke. That is objective, without bias. They made that clear."

"Really, we should swing from chandliers, the chandliers should not be wasted. Do you want to swim? There is a salt-water pool this time."

Sabina slowly, as not to spook Cryo, raises her hands and covers Cryo's eyes with them. "Cryo.." She says, finally calling her by nickname. "Perhaps you are worth more then you allow yourself to think. Perhaps Zeke..if he can say such things and mean them, is not worthy of you. Perhaps Seldan is not the paladin he thinks he is either. I will go talk to them and I'll be giving them a piece of my mind, most likely. Now.. if you would? Please repeat after me... I am not evil."

The white sith lets her eyes be covered. It seems to relax her. Her breathing is hard, even as she's trying to relax it. She listens to the things Sabina says, allows them as thoughts in her head. They will mix and play with the others.

She gets a strange smile on her long snout, her response is playful. "Sabina is not Evil, but everyone wonders about Emp."

"Oh! You rapscalion!" Bina says with a laugh but keeps her hands over Cryo's eyes. "You know exactly what I ment!" She continues to laugh but then calms down. Still it's with a smile as she speaks. "Say it. Taste the truth of the words. I am not evil..."

"I am not evil." The sith woman finally says. It's normal sounding enough, though whether she properly tasted the words and will fully digest them is unknown. She exhales a soft sigh, "Am I a dumb lizard?"

Kira may be allowed into the MMM Grand Mansion, but that doesn't mean she isn't still polite. From the foyer, she knocks on the doorframe before calling out. "Cryo? It's Kira. How are you feeling?" There. That sounds less odd and more polite than asking if she's here, or awake, or indecent.

Sabina uncovers Cryo's eyes and still is smiling. "Dumb? No. Caught up in things that are and feel larger then yourself? Yes. Acting silly when preasures mount up instead of turning to others for assistance? Yes. But you deserve better then what that trio said to you." She hears Kira entering and chuckles, sliding off her imprompto seat and moving to the railing above and waving down at Kira. "Hello there. We're up here."

The sith can see again, her eyes have gone back to having slit pupils, and looking like sapphire gems. She nods, deep within the cushions, looking up at Sabina crouched over her. "Yes we are! Come in Kira, you are most welcome!"

Kira steps in, then follows the sounds of voices... up? "Oh, my. Hello!" She smiles, waving back up at the waves down as she heads to the stairs and up. Because Sentinel's don't fly. "How are you both?"

Bina grins and settles herself back in her own seat, fetching her wine. "Now. If I hear another bit of silliness like that from you I will poke you. Hard. Because you have scales and I don't." She says with a lighthearted grin. "I hope that works for you because that's what is happening."

"Aha! You found the hidden tryst stairs Kira! That only hopeful romantics would know to look for!" Cryo laughs loudly, wriggling about in her chair. She grins also, "My hide is most thick. It does not protect from words! Being Speaker, one would think this one better at defending from those. It is good to see you Kira, we a plotting! 'Bina said I should here as my lair, and make grand plans! Have the comfy chair, this one can sit on the railing."

Kira can't help but laugh a little at the lightheartedness. "Your lair?" she asks as she reaches the top, "is that like a nest?" she looks around trying to decide what might be the difference. "... but with more stairs?"

Kira dips in a curtsey to Sabina. "Hello."

Bina tsks and waves a hand to Kira. "Come sit down and help me get Cryosanthia on the right thinking track. Or keep her there. She seesm to think this is a prison so I told her to think of it as her secret lair to plot out the demise of that ...creature." Bina laughs. "Also to give a thought for us as well as herself."

The whitescale nods as she seats herself on the balcony. While there is a curved wall of abstract colours that simulates a sky behind her, it is still a wall and she's only got enough space to get her tail down between it and the balcony. Her feet brace against a couple of the many posts. "Auranar said that too, that I must think of my friends more. I am too stuck in myself and would rather be fun, do fun things. I appreciate you both coming to see me, it is helping immensely. I'm sorry it takes you away from other things."

She turns to look at Kira, "Has your day gone well? Lairs are more for dragons, and villains. 'Bina says I am not evil, nor villain, so it shall be a good dragon lair then."

"You are definitely not evil, nor a villlain, Cryo," Kira laughs, "though you might be a bit dragon," she accedes before nodding to Bina. "I think this place is very much a secret lair and definitely not a prison."

After that assurance, she answers the question. "I think my day went fairly well." She looks between them. "How does the plotting go?"

"The plotting has just gotten started. At least I've nudged toward plotting? Cryosanthia is once again going to be looking for clues that could help her achieve her own goals and bring down the ..her..so people can go along in their lives more happily." Bina turns from one to the other. "Isn't that right?" she asks.

"So far not much beyond that plotting things should be done. I listed fourteen things that might be explored, though half are forbidden. Perhaps, more than half. As 'Bina says." Cryo says, holding onto he railing rocking a little from side to side. She reaches out a hand towards Emp, seeing if the peacock has forgiven her for throwing him up to the balcony yet. "Yes. Clues and... thinking about things. Perhaps not too much on certain things."

Kira nods , her smile brightening. "Living a happy life is a very good goal, and I know there are many things to think about. Maybe too many..." Her smile flickers some. "Probably too many."

She banishes the thought of thoughts for now, at least of unpleasant ones. Rather than sit, she offers a hand towards Cryo. "Speaking of that, I'd like to offer warm and hopeful thoughts for you, sister. I think they'll help with the happy."

"Oh? Yes. I'm curious!" Cryo reaches out, taking Kira's hand, leaning towards her. She places a foot closer to help her balance, and her tail stays snugged around the balcony, "What thoughts? Please."

Lord Emp takes this moment to strike! Wings flutter and he flap up and apon Cryo's head to perch there as if to say.. 'Ha! Throw me will you!' but at least he doesn't peck at her.

Bina sighs and grouses at her bird. "Emp! Come on now.. be nice! She wouldn't have tossed you if she didn't know you could fly."

Kira grins at Lord Emp, then gives a little laugh as he chooses a perch. An unusual one, but delightful. She gives Cryo's hand a squeeze before, "I spoke with Zeke, today. I know that things seemed... bad when you last saw him, but I don't think he realized how you took them. He asked me to share with you that he didn't mean to upset you, that he is worried about you, and to assure you that he would like to see you as soon as you both are able."

"Truly, he does not look like a bird that flies. So many feathers!" Cryo says, keeping her arm held out as a perch. She will be a bird perch now. She appreciates the lack of pecking, and hopes that decision does not change.

Her light-heartedness seems to fade as the conversation turns to Zeke. She manages a smile, an awkard one, "That... is good to know. The ... scales were pulled from my eyes. Some things can not be unseen, unfelt, unrealized... When I am able... sure..."

The sith is looking for her glass of wine, finds it, takes a long drink.

Sabina watches a swath of her work wiped away and sighs. "I'm going to talk to Zeke and Seldan. Because Cryosanthia is not evil and should not be treated as such. In any way." She says grimly.

Emp hop-shuffles over to Cryo's arm and chirps a few time before spreading out his wings wide in a 'look at me! I'm awesome!' way. Bina snorts. "Ham."

Kira's smile wobbles and wibbles at the reaction. She hoped Cryo might find assurance in the news... though that might be after getting past the salt and lemon Kira have rubbed into the wound with the mention. "I... He did ask me, and I promised I would tell you. I know that doesn't erase what happened, or the hurt it caused..." She sighs and looks to Sabina apologetically.

Cryo shrinks back a little. "This one does not trust her re-telling, or the thoughts that have compounded since. I have scrolls, that will allow me to share memories. I should use them up so they are not temptations. I can share the last minute of that interaction, when Zeke left, you will understand. Perhaps you can share something happy to me. Not a fair trade."

"I don't know, perhaps all this playing with memory is being too much like the Miss...terrytreacle. It is a thing though, if you wish to try."

"If you wish us to see that then yes. If it hurts then no. I think I can say that we're both here for you and to ease your soul the best we can." She looks to Kira for confermation on that. "And when you're tired of us we'll go. And perhaps come back again another time with dancers and a cake?" Bina say with a smirk.

Kira nods in agreement with Sabina while not really looking away from Cryo. "I would take the pain of it from you, if I could.... but, as she said. If you want to share it, yes, but not if it would cause you more suffering. You're welcome to any happy memory of mine you'd like. I think you are already in most of them."

There comes the coded knock, unexplained, but consisted from Brae since returning from her time as the chimerilith. "'ey, Cryo, y'in there, luv?"

"Ha! How can that be? I've been a mess every time!" Cryo lunges forward, hugging Kira strongly. Holding on to her and simply breathing. She is room temperature again today, a good sign for the moment. And it seems, a little closer to how whimsical she was when Kira arrived.

Then there is the knock, and she calls down, "Yes Braelnoir, this one is within! Come! It is open for you."

Finally the whitescale sith looks over at Sabina, "Bring dancers and cake next time, yes! We shall evaluate them for best step and greatest sweetness. It will hurt and I wish you to see, so it is an answer of both? It is my hope you will see something with your eyes this one does not."

Bina sighs with a sad smile but nods. "Cake and dancers next time. And sad memmories now." She wonders at the new voice and person entering. Lord Emp flaps off of Cryo and onto the seat above Sabina's head, readjusting all of his feathers afterwards. The price of looking fapulous.

Kira starts to counter Cryo's counter, then is lunged and hugged. What might have been a counter becomes a laugh and she returns the embrace firmly and fondly. Kira can't -not- like hugs, afterall. When Cryo explains more to Bina, Kira accepts with a nod. "If that is what you want, I will accept them for you,..." there's a pause as she tries to add another word in a tongue meant for, well, longer tongues and more teeth, "<sister>."

She's curious and uncertain a moment, not sure if she said that right. Then she realizes she also didn't clarify, and adds, "The memories. And the cake." A hmm. "Maybe the dancers, too?" Lastly, she looks over to wave down and smile anew to Braelnoir.

The door opens to allow Brae entrance and she gives a, "Hey, sis, whatchaaa....ahhhh..." she blinks at the conjured splendor for a couple of moments, letting the door swing shut behind her. This is... different. A shrug, and the merc makes her way on up to where the ladies are, "So, what's going on?" she wonders with a grin. "Heyo," she starts toward the masked woman from the bar, "This one's got some moves, sis." she says playfully. She steps in to hug Kira and Cryo, though she loosens up and draws back a little at mention of, "Sad memories...?" With Kira's dip into linguistics, she gives a look to the woman and, "Family's gettin' bigger, huh?"

'Ha, it is almost right, "Sister" sister', Cryosanthia grins, then settles back. She takes a moment to step to the balcony and look down at Braelnoir, 'Grab a chandlier rope and cut it and come right up, or climb a draperies. Or there's another method, if you have secrets! Which, you found.'

'It is, yes', She nods with a grin, 'You understand now? Your scales sunk in! So... I was going to share an embarassing memory, they were going to share happy ones. This is the better plan than sharing them with the Miss...anthrope. Oh that is another thing, this one is not allowed to say The Mistress, anymore. You must poke me if I do.' <draconic>

And Bina playfully reaches over and does just that. "You said it! I know it was just to let people know but you did so I poke!" She smiles and reaches for the wine bottle and pours more into her glass and then offers to fill glasses for the rest of them gathered. "Ahh! The singer of songs I see." She says to Braelnoir. "Good to see you again. I didn't know you knew these two as well."

Kira was already readying a poking finger, but Brae hugs pleasantly distract her. Cheeks then pinken some as Cryo calls out her poor use of tongue. "I've only learned a few words. Still studying, but maybe soon? It's not the easiest for me to learn."

She thinks of the memory-sharing plan and suggests, "We could all share happy memories, too... or maybe embarassing ones." Either she has some or just the thought of embarassing rekindles her blush. "I think I'd very much prefer happy memories..." she steps back a little to gesture to Cryo and curtsey deeply, smiling, "but she is our hostess, so it's all her choice."

Braelnoir blinks, "Scales sunk...?" she wonders, then, "Whattaya mean, she was talkin' clear as day." with a shrug. She looks back at her former audience and asides, "Toldja!" before she greets Sabi properly with a, "Kira'n I known each other a little while." She gives "Cryo" a fond squeeze, "s'my sister." but, "In all the fun I don't reckon we got introduced, proper." A hand's offered with, "I'm Braelnoir." She turns then to Kira, "I'd known there's gonna be story time I'da brought some proper drinks."

"Oh, this place is full of drinks, don't worry Braelnoir!" Cryo says, letting Sabina poke her. She gestures around, "Kira, Sabina, Braelnoir, Emperor Indulgence!" The peacock has been given a seat on the balcony rail near her.

"Most all my memories are embarassing, Kira. Happy ones are... hard to grasp." She looks oddly thougthful for a while, then shakes her head and rubs at her horns. "I would have to think on some that are not tainted, so perhaps we should do it later then. What have you been up to Braelnoir?"

Sabina stands up to take the offered hand and shake it and then places a wine glass in it after her hand has vacated the spot. "Nice to meet you and know your name, oh singer of song." Bina says with a laugh. "Please do join us." She retakes her seat and then lets Cryo take over the conversation.

Kira was about to note to Brae that there are several glasses of wine about: at least one apiece for Cryo and Bina. Instead, she gestures Brae to a seat. "Please, make yourself comfortable. I think," she looks to Cryo, smiling despite, or maybe due to Cryo's admission on memories, "that we are obligated to help make more happy memories for Cryosanthia..." She should probably find herself a seat, too and hunts one down nearby.

The silver maned woman pokes Cryo, since it seems the thing to do, then, 'I guess I could tell the Scythe story again.' she says with a shrug, then with the followup question, she sighs, 'I... heard back on Mer's situation.' She lowers her chin and rubs at her neck, 'Gonna need serious muscle t'pull it off... if... ' She gets distracted by the wineglass with a, 'Thanks, luv.' and downs it with a smack of her lips before she continues, shaking her head, 'Dukey's a god, there. Wouldn't even b'able to get a scry on Merek unless he lets us.' She sighs a quiet, 'I wan'ned better news...' "I'm sorry, sister..." she intones as she dejectedly settles into indicated chair. She looks up to Kira at her intentions and she forces a smile, 'Hear-hear!'she could use, some, too. <draconic>

"Oh," Cryo says, sitting back on the railing, "from Duke to God. Thanks for looking into that. I can't think of anyone strong enough to help Merek, and the Demon Duke is one of the forbidden tasks."

She looks thoughtful, balancing on the rails. "I was happy serving food in the Fernwood. It was fun, but it was not a big memory. Freeing some of my people from Charn, that was very joyous, although it's a complicated memory. I should go see the horn of Gilead again. It's nice to be in its presence. Yes, returning that to the temple and seeing it, was quite happy."

The whitescale exhales, "Since the Miss Take. I am not sure, even escaped each moment seemed a desperate lurch to the next one. Times with you, of course. Some times with Zeke... before... Have you been to see a play? You could tell me about a performance you saw, or the scythe story Braelnoir, the others have not heard."

Kira's lips purse at Brael's news. "That would explain some things..." Like the portals to ...elsewhere. She shifts from thoughts of Merek and the last time she saw him, to... happy memories. She has to take a bit to think on that, herself.

"Happy memories... Most all with you both," she smiles and hmms. "Sitting on the steps with a certain very curious sith..." she turns the smile to Cryo, "... Aika's exuberance and questions ... and requests... and ..." she lets a little laugh " not so different from you, Cryo... Hmm... Halani's idea of the school, and planning how to form it."

They're all fairly brief, specific moments, but certainly happy ones.

"Closest I ever got was a behind th'scenes at that one showin' of 'The Dragon an' the Demon'." Brae replies with a wry grin and a wink. She looks a little introspective for a moment or two, sighs, then, "That's one o'my happy memories, s'one you gave me, luv. You, Kae an' the boys."

Cryosanthia grins, wobbling her head, "I do remember the steps! If you and Halani have ideas of what your training hall might look like, I could make it here for you to try out some time. This one has been meaning to talk with her, perhaps see if she used the hair paste. I'm curious if it comes in silver and as long as Brae's."

She smiles over at the former chimera - no human, remembering both. "That was, such a while ago! I have read many place, not seen too many performed. I do have a story to tell, it would be better tomorrow, when I can have more stage and less balconies. You should swing from a chandlier Brae, it is wonderful! See, that is a happy memory, but it is not a big one."

"Oh!" Kira is reminded of the hair paste. "I did give it to her, and I think she was interested in using it. She misses her eyesbrows, and the wig I made for her didn't help with those." Her widening smile may make that an addition to The List.

"Thank you for the offer," she beams at Cryo. "We're still deciding what and how to best to teach others. We'll need a place to do that soon, though, I hope." Brae gets a long glance (maybe it's the silver hair? or the idea of her swinging on a chandelier?) before blinking a laugh at "You swung from a chandelier?" and eyeing the sith.

Braelnoir smiles oddly, much like the night she swore her oath to Cryo and the boys, "It is ta me, luv." she says softly, then, back to the hair, "I'll have t'cut it to something a little more practical after I give Mor're painting." The merc shrugs and, "So whatcha trainin? Was showin..." she pauses, then, a little thoughtful smile, "Met a girl, while I's still snakey... sweetheart, I's teachin'r handtalk an' how t' handle a knife proper. Hope ya can meet'r, someday... as it is, aside from breakin' Kae's pegs, I been tryin' ta stay away so Ghisha doesn't get an eye on her. 'specially since Elly won't let m'just kill the fuckin' crows."

"Why won't she? They are evil." Cryo tilts her head, looking at Braelnoir, "I'd like to meet your new friend. Perhaps you should braid it, and see how long a braid you like, you can pin it at different lengths, then when you find one suitable, cut it to that."

She looks over at Kira next, grinning widely, "Oh yes! It seems a staple of all the romantic stories. Dramatic escapes, secret meetings on balconies, swinging from chandliers, dueling a rival. I have practiced! Did you not see the ones already on the floor?"

Kira isn't sure what to think of the mentioned crows, though killing them sounds terrible to her. She nods with the idea of braiding, though, and - "Oh! We do still need to braid your hair! We could do that while we're sharing memories, or stories... I did see the chandeliers on the floor, but I didn't think that they were swung on!" That makes her laugh briefly again, though it turns a bit bashful as she adds, "I haven't read many romantic stories, but maybe there were chandeliers in them?" Now she's trying to remember.

Braelnoir shrugs, "It wasn't fer Ghisha I wouldn't think much o'the damned things, less I's hungry and there weren't any deer." She nods, "We get things settled in... I'd... well, I'd like ya t'meet." she says with a little smile. She gives the place another lookover, and "I could probably try this chandlier thing... it may come up at some point, and the practice can only hurt so much." She looks to Kira, "Haven't gotten t'read a lotta romantic stuff. Couple bodice rippers, here an' there, read one that got... pretty flowery, but I lost th'book a'fore I got too far into it." The notion of braiding her hair again brings a hand up to brushes it back from her ears and, "Haven't had anyone do my hair in ferever..." she says with a shrug, but rises to take up an errant wineglass and look back to the others to see what they want to do, first...

"Chandliers are easy! I shall show you. Oh... you don't have a useful tail anymore, that will make things harder. Still, it can be improvised. All libraries have those books, one must know where to look to find them." The white sith grins, looking at both her friends, her sisters. "And I would love to meet her. I think before we swing, Kira should do the braiding? That is a thing you can teach me. I am very curious. We can tell the other stories while we do the braiding. I think this will be the plan."

Cryo nods encouragingly, braid then swing. Share some tales, tails, perhaps some memories and then plot!