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March 9 , 2004 | |
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Castle - Avalon ...
Siana smiles broadly, dragging a bloodied boar on a bed behind her. It has several arrows in it; most noticibly 3 in its eye socket. She laughs heartily, speaking to invisible hunting comrades in thickly-accented Thari.
Yosannah enters the hallway after Siana, she seems to be following after the girl, hurried, "Excuse me... uh, excuse me."
Siana looks you up and down clasps her fist against her breastplate with gusto. "Huzzah! I know you not, so you must be real." She considers the room, then grins jovially. "You know which way the kitchens? I don't remember too many rooms inside the castle."
Yosannah halts mid-stride and blinks, "What? Real?" She bites at her lower lip, considering the statement. Nothing insightful comes from her mouth, however. Instead, she responds, "Kitchen, I uh... you aren't going to eat that are you?"
Siana laughs again, and you may even hear the ghostly laughs of shapes and forms. If you look closely, you can make out figures dressed in military garb akin to the later Roman ages. "Of course we're to eat it. Boar is very tasty. What is the use of hunting, if not to eat or wear the creature that has given up of itself to you."
Siana looks around and gestures toward the library's hallway. "Let's try there!" She seems to be in a right jolly mood. "What is your name, lady?"
Yosannah blinks once or twice and waves a hand before her eyes as if brushing something from her view. She follows after Siana however, "Yo. My name is Yo. Listen, I don't think that's the kitchen and I..."
Anjali enters from the corridor which connects the courtyard to the main hall.
Yosannah is following after Siana, they seem to be making their way into the Library.
Siana stops and looks back at you over her shoulder, "Which way is the kitchen?"
Yosannah shrugs her shoulders, "I..." Clearly, she doesn't know. Conceding this fact she waves Siana into the Library.
Siana drags a pallet behind her that bears the body of a boar. It's blooded and has a moderate sprinking of arrows. Of note, it has 3 in one eye socket. Siana's grin is wide, the hunter carousing after a successful stalk. She exchanges one-sided jokes and barbs with nothingness at first. On closer inspection, you might be able to see and hear the dreamlike forms of a hunting party garbed in later Roman military fashion.
Anjali wanders in through the main doors of the castle. He appears mildly confused, and he pauses upon glimpsing the two women. Seeing them, he bows in a courtly fashion, and murmers, "Ladies."
Siana raises her hand in hearty greeting. "Huzzah, lord. Know the way to the kitchen?" Nods are exchanged with her 'companions', "Yes, yes, and the wine. We need much wine."
Yosannah follows Siana's gaze to Anjali. She sqints in an effort to inspect the man.
Siana squints toward Anjali, "Lady?"
Anjali walks closer, and grins, one corner of his mouth tilting up crookedly. "I do, in fact, and have made my way there on many a night."
Siana drags behind her a freshly-killed boar upon a pallet. She squints one eye, then the other, as Anjali nears. "Lad?"
Siana lifts a brow to Yo, expression bidding her to help judge what approaches.
Riva steps in, looking weary and her hair desselved. She is bare-foot.
Anjali holds out his wand, and announces, "Your majesty will do!" He grins again, "I am the king of the peacocks." He dips into another bow, "It is a pleasure to make your aquaintences."
Yosannah looks from Siana to the thing that is Riva. She shakes her head and shrugs.
Riva makes a face, "Oh Damnit. Not here too. Yosannah? You real?"
Siana gestures toward Anjali, none too discretely. She grunts at the bow, seeming to know. "I apologize if I offended his Majesty. The sun is very bright upon the snow, it was hard to tell from afar."
Yosannah considers Riva for a long moment. She lifts the skirts of her evening dress a touch and takes a retreating step, "Riva? What the hell is going on here."
Siana thumps her fist against her breastplate in salute, nodding to him and the other woman. "I am Siana del Campo, and have hunted a present of boar for Bridget."
Riva says "Not a clue, but I managed to get a group of people out of the ice-palace and to understand if it looks odd-it ain't real...but we've lost my sister and the Empress. I was hoping they were here."
Yosannah says, "Bridget? Who is Bridget?" She looks from Siana to Riva, "And what are you talking about." She points at Siana, her troop and Anjali, "And who are these people?"
Anjali announces, "Bridget is the Queen here, of this castle."
Siana smiles affectionately at her soldiers, then answers Yo. "I know not what is the nature of this place, or what magics might be at work. But my men have come back from Hades to guide me."
Riva's gaze slides to Siana, "Bridget is the Empress of Avalon. Her birthday bash was last evening. this here is Anjali, son of Indrani, This woman here is apparently Siana, who is a big late for the empress' Birthday bash. Now, Yo, what brings you to Avalon?"
Yosannah lifts both hands and points at Anjali and Riva, "Queen? Birthday? All right, this is enough." She seems rather confused, "Where is my husband?!"
Anjali levels his wand toward Yosannah, "But you were there, at the ball. Why do you not remember?"
Riva looks to siana, "My Lady siana, it is not real. You men have not come back." she looks at Yosannah, "Yosannah, What is your Husband's name? Why are you here?"
Yosannah points at Anjali, "No, no, no." She shakes her head and replies to Riva, "What do you mean? You're not funny, Riva. I don't know why you always tease about him like this."
Siana's expression touches with pity at Riva. "They are dead, their spirits have returned to guide me. As do all whose tasks are so important that they are given temporary leave of Hades."
Riva says "I'm just a bit confused, Yosannah. Indulge me?" She rubs her neck, "Ho boy. This is not recreational. *'m* supposed to be the only person seeing things, people.""
Siana pronounces, "You see what you need to see." She turns her attentions towards Anjali, "The kitchen, his majesty of peacocks? The cooks will need to soon tend to this boar to get its peak flavoring."
Yosannah blinks. She might even be pouting, "Riva. You were at the wedding I..." She lifts her hands to her lips, very delicate, "I don't know why you detest Jurt so."
Riva ah's, "Right, Jurt, You know, it's all just a prank between he and I. You know how we kid each other." she offers a tight smile, "Maybe he went up to the slopes?"
Anjali turns to SIana, and announces, "They are this way! Follow! Follow!" He then turns and bolts down the hallways.
Siana grunts and does a good job keeping up with the quick Anjali, even while dragging behind her a large boar.
Yosannah nods, rather pathetically, at Riva, "You think so?" She turns though as Anjali darts from the room.
Anjali leads the way to the kitchens, then with a sudden wild laugh, charges into the halls and soon vanishes from view.
Riva says "Knowing Jurt, yeah. Just hope he doesn't decide it's avalache weather. We should get up there, eh?"
Yosannah rests a hand over her heart, faint, "Oh yes, absolutely. He'll be expecting me." She moves to follow after Riva and offers, as an aside, "Riva... darling. What happened to your face?"
Riva says "I dunno, haven't looked in the mirror. why?"
Yosannah intones, reassuring, "Um.. Well. Nothing, really. It's not important. Now where are we going?"
Riva says "Up to the ski slopes. It's a bit of a walk, you got comfy shoes?"
Yosannah lifts the skirts of her dress and peers down at her stilletto shoes, "A bit of a walk? You mean these won't do? Oh, dear."
Riva says "mmm, maybe we can get a horse. Make it a bit easier for you."
Riva's tone is weary, and she offers Yosannah a haunted smile.
"Yes, yes. I can ride, you know. Let's be off."
Ski Chalet, Avalon...
Dai is sitting by the fire smoking a cigarette and drinking a cup of coffee.
Yosannah mutters, sweetly, "My word but that was a hike. Well now," she must be addressing Riva, "I don't see him. This is horrible."
Dai arches and eyebrow and looks at Riva.
Riva says "He's an ex-an old friend of mine. Good guy, his name is Dai."
Yosannah smooths over her gown with her hands and floats in Dai's direction, "Well, any friend of yours, as they say." She holds out her hand, palm down, fingers extended, "It's a pleasure, young man."
Riva says "Want some hot coffee, Yo?"
Dai takes Yo's hand with a faint smileon his face, and brings it to his lips. "A pleasure miss."
Yosannah lifts her free hand to her lips and blushes. To Riva she offers a thankful nod and a smile, "Why thank you, yes."
Riva goes into the kitchen and goes about fixing coffee, wondering, "So what are you and Jurt doing in this neck of the woods?"
Yosannah looks about for a place to sit. "Light holiday, of course." She sits beside Dai, places her hands in her lap and leans close to him, "My husband, the King, very rarely gets an opportunity like this." She nods, matter of factly.
Dai ohs and nods. "And what is your husband the king of again?"
Yosannah pats his shoulder, sympathetically, "You must be a local boy." And then, "The Courts of Chaos. It's quite some ways from here."
Dai's eyes widen. "Jurt? The King of Chaos? Excuse me for a moment mi'lady." He stands up and heads for the door. Once outside, he falls to the ground laughing.
Riva brings Yo a cup of coffee, "So how is the king business these days, majesty?"
Yosannah takes the coffee from Riva and cups it in her hands. She seems about to respond when the sound of Dai's laughter wafts through the door. "Oh dear. Is that boy all right?"
Riva shakes her head, "Nope, He was never right after I broke his heart." she whispers, looking guilty.
Yosannah mouths an "Oh". She peers around the arm of the couch and looks toward the door, "Very true. A broken heart can do that to a man. It's a shame."
Dai walks back into the chalet and resumes his seat, clearing his throat as he does so.
Riva nods slowly, "Some things aren't ment to be." she looks at Dai and gives him an innocent smile, "Everything alright?"
Yosannah looks upon Dai anew. Sympathy in her expresion.
Dai looks between the two of you. "Did I miss something here?"
Riva says "Just girl talk."
Yosannah lifts her coffee to her lips and smiles behind her mug, agreeable, "Mmm, girl talk, yes."
Dai ahs. "Okay. So, when exactly did Jurt become King of Chaos and who was his predecessor?"
Yosannah lowers her mug and rests it in her lap. "Well, I'd say it's been almost eight years now, yes. He acquired the position from King Kaldaur after his untimely passing.." She lowers her voice now and offers, "Jurt always used to say: that Kaldaur seems to be something of a pansy to me. He has no business running the Courts." She nods, "I suppose it was fortuitous for Chaos when he passed." She smiles.
Dai glances at Riva.
Riva says "It's bad luck to speak of the dead in unflattering terms. And considering the source, I'mn inclined to believe it's true."
Dai nods. "Truly. Then again, Jurt is not someone to take lightly. I imagine he can survive whatever ill luck comes his way."
Yosannah pouts, "Well, I suppose you are correct, Mister Dai. And my luck can get much worse it seems."
Dai nods. "Tell me your majesty, do you know of one called Pestilence?"
Riva groans and rolls her eyes.
Yosannah furrows her brow and looks to Riva, "It means disease dear boy. Are you ill?"
Riva murmurs, "He has had morbid tastes ever since.." she gives Yosannah a meaningful look and trails off.
Dai glares at Riva for a moment.
Yosannah mouths another "Oh" and makes no further comment.
Dai begins to pout and leans back in his seat. He takes a drag from his cigarette.
Riva looks to yosannah, "I *am* pleased to see you. We just *never* get enough talk to chit-chat and catch up lately."
Yosannah says, "If only it were under better circumstances. I'm affraid I am a wreck." She looks to Elektra as the woman lays, quiet, "What is wrong with that lovely girl?"
Dai says "She's.....uh......tired. Had a long night and drank a little too much. She's been sleeping all day."
Riva tilts her head, "I'm afraid I don't understand, Yo. And Elektra? A long day, she's getting her beauty rest."
Yosannah explains, for Riva's benefit, "I'm just not good company right now I fear. Sick with worry and all." She blushes, "You must think me terribly trite."
Riva tisks, "Nonsense, I know it'll all be fine, but it is sweet of you to worry so. My husband never worried over me." she sighs softly.
Dai mutters, "That's what happens when you can kick his ass."
Riva looks at Dai, hurt, "I never hurt him!"
Yosannah lowers her gaze, not wanting to involve herself in the domestic squable that seems to be taking place.
Dai shrugs. "I never said you did."
Yosannah inquires, meekly, "If I may interrupt for but a moment..."
Riva looks at Yosannah, "Yes dear?"
Yosannah says, "I am rather fatigued. Might there be a room that could be made ready for me."
Riva says "Oh, Of course." she looks to Dai, biting her lip. "Sure. It's a bit cramped but you should be cozy."
Yosannah rises, "Perfect. Besides, it seems as if you two have some things to discuss..."