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March 28 , 2004 | |
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World's End...
Yosannah slides into a chair at the far table. She slumps, legs outstretched before her and steaming mug in her hands.
You stare at the image of Stone...
To the image of Stone, Yosannah says "Save me."
The image of Stone says "I will be your knight in shining armor. Coming to your emotional rescue."
Yosannah holds out her hand ...
Stone glances around as Yosannah brings him in the room.
Yosannah gestures to a chair at her table.
Stone smiles, "You survived being queen, I see."
Yosannah lifts her hand and offers a light smile, "Let's let that be."
Stone chuckles, "Fair enough."
Yosannah says "When did you leave there." She sips her tea then adds for clearification, "Avalon.""
Stone says "Just recently. Stayed even when it was all over."
Yosannah leans foward now and rests her arms atop the table. "What happened there. I recall leaving you at Bridget's birthday, going to the Inn in town and..." She shrugs her shoulders.
Stone says "Well, it turns out it was all .. didn't they invite you to the wrap up?"
Yosannah raises a brow, "Wrap up?" She shakes her head, "I got the hell out of there once I uh... got a handle on my ... whatever. Took Riva with me. What wrap up?"
Stone says "It messed us up a bit. Testing, I think."
Yosannah lowers her gaze to the table and closes her eyes with a disbelieving smile, "I thought it was the pattern." She looks up at him, "And I was seeing things."
Stone says "It might have been the Pattern guiding the angel."
Yosannah exhales, cheeks billowing, "Pffff. Right."
Stone shrugs, "Anything's possible."
Yosannah says "Why would it..." She seems to reconsider her question and asks, instead, "What was the purpose of everyone's delusions. I mean, Riva lost her short term memory or something.""
Stone says "Seeing how we handled things? Seeing our dreams and what haunts us?"
Yosannah raises a brow at this. Sips her tea.
Stone says "Least that's what I think. Going back there soon to find more out."
Yosannah says "Why. What'd it do to you."
Stone smiles slightly, "Revealed an interesting tangent."
Yosannah tilts her head and eyes him cooly, "Don't play with me."
Stone chuckles, "I was a Prince of Avalon. And I think I might be again. I rather enjoyed it."
Yosannah points, light smirk on her lips, "I sense a theme here. You marry that Bridget, I marry Jurt and we rule the known universe. How's that for a deal." She nods, seemingly satisfied with the notion, crosses her arms and sits back in her chair.
Stone laughs at his table.
Stone says "You're the third person to mention Bridget and I together."
Yosannah seems to be amused as well.
Yosannah lifts her hands, "I'm not implying anything here. 'Sides, you and I both know you aint the marrying kind."
Stone says "Okay, Mrs. Jurt. Darn tootin'."
Yosannah waves a hand, dismissively, "Bah."
Stone says "Anyway, I should be heading off, methinks. On my way to something when you called. But I'll keep you posted about what I find in Avalon."
Yosannah slides away from her table.
Rohan looks at Yo and Stone for a moment.
Yosannah says "Yeah, me to. I actually have to head out to the Courts tomorrow. The tourament is in the evening. You should come."
Stone stands, taking a trump from his jacket.
Stone says "If I get a chance."
Yosannah nods and offers Stone a light smirk, "Check. Catch ya later." Her form begins to shimmer.
Later that night, Grand Hall - Academy Of Magic...
The room you now stand in is enormous by most standards, being large enough to hold several homes side by side within. The majority of the gleaming white marble floor remains uncovered - save for a small portion depicting the seal of The Academy; and behind this, a large oaken desk. Encircling the entire floor area are multiple stone benches leaning up against the walls. These are separated by either marble or granite statues of heroes and legends; or polished wooden doors that lead away further into the Academy.
Along the east wall - approximately ten feet off the ground - a balcony sits. Black iron railings upon it protect those there from stepping too close to the edge. This balcony ends at each side wall of the room in a winding staircase leading to the ground floor. Several doors are spaced perfectly on the balcony's wall, leading to what appears to be offices. Hanging high overhead from steel chains are numerous glowing spheres of light. These cast nearly the only illumination in this windowless room. Despite the lack of outside light, the room seems pleasant and almost inviting - almost.
Yosannah shimmers into existance decending the winding staircase. Her hand lingers on the iron railing, guiding her purposeful steps.
Lisle doesn't shimmer, she walks in from Landen town, looking a bit out of place, perhaps, hands in her pockets, a backpack slouched over one too-straight shoulder.
Yosannah nods at Lisle's arrival. Her gaze slides in the direction of the guard and then back to Lisle. "You made it," she smiles, intoning softly for the Princess. "There are no students about now, but who knows how much longer we'll be left to ourselves." Her gaze drifts to the guard once again.
Lisle also looks at the guard, hands in her pockets. She has such a smile, both dimples showing at the corner of her mouth. "I did, and with no troubles, really." She sounds a little pleased by this, then says, "Let's get started. Or do you think this gentleman here will prevent us?"
Yosannah shakes her head, "No, I don't think so. This way." She gestures toward the dark doors...
The Recreation Room - Academy Of Magic...
It would appear that this room of the Academy is used for the relaxation of instructors and students alike. It is octagonal in design - large and open, with high arched ceilings. The white marble walls are adorned with various pictures and arcane symbols. Throughout the chamber are placed small pedestals, each holding moderate artifacts of the past within their enchanted glass cases.
Positioned directly across the room from the door is a short marble-topped bar, serving a wide variety of local drinks. A few tables of differing sizes, comfortable looking chairs, and several couches lined either with velvet or satin are scattered throughout the room, adding to the overall pleasant atmosphere. A single chandelier hangs high overhead, casting its magical glow over everything constantly.
Lisle follows Yosannah into the room saying, "I had this idea we should try a few things first. Maybe combining two objects, one that you make, one that I make. See what happens."
Yosannah motions the Princess into the room. She casts a final look down the Moon Corridor and closes the door after. She slides the bolt securely in place and turns with a nod. "Alright. Let's give it a go." Stepping into the center of the room, she waits for Lisle.
Lisle slips the pack off her shoulders, then walks to the marble topped bar. She says, "With the sorcery items I need more time for the rituals," all business, she is tending to the obsessive gradure that implies single-minded purpose. "So let me create a pattern item. If you could create something similar. Perhaps boxes. I'll create a big one, you make one to fit inside." Her hands are out, about 6 inches. "I'll make the first box about this big."
Yosannah's hand reaches outward and offers the woman a single nod. Fingers curl and her gaze goes distand. After a moment there is a rainbow shimmer and a purposeful jerk of her wrist. Where once her fingers were empty, now rests a tiny stack of cards in her palm. She shuffles through them and, withdrawing one, she sets it on the ground before her. The remaining cards are tucked away in her pant's pocket.
In kind, Lisle ornaments the marble topped table with both palms, down and flat, then turned palm to palm. The fall of dark blonde hair hides much of her expression, but what can be seen is full of concentration. Eyes vivid and blue. Form begins to take shape, but it is insubstatial. It is a wavering of light and energy, like heatwaves over the blackest, hottest concrete.
The auburn haired sorceress inhales slowly and deeply. Her hands hover over the tarot that rests on the floor though she remains standing. Fingers curl and, for those with the sight for such things, draw forth the card's energies, swirling in an upward spiral.
Dark rooted blonde lashes flutter. In a fracion of a second a hollowed box sits on the marble topped bar. It is smooth, not like plastic, not like wood. And Lisle seems to find this curious, fingertips touching its sides.
Yosannah bites at her lower lip, brow furrowed in tight, focused concentration. Her left hand lingers over the ambient spiral of energy that rises from the motionless tarot. The right hand reaches out drawing from the essence of the shadow itself. Guiding, until a form like that of the box that sits before Lisle begins to take shape.
Lisle lifts the box gingerly off the bartop, then sets it back down. Her eyes linger on the box before they settle on her counterpart, an elbow leaning on the bar, touching the box as if by that means she can keep it safe. Lisle regards Yosannah with a focuse, crisp, intensity.
The sprial before Yosannah begins to dissipate until it fades completely from view. Where the tarot once rested, there now remains a dark shadow of dust. She brushes her foot over the remnants of the card. In her hands, however, she also holds a tiny box.
Lisle's voice is rough, as if she's slept a great deal, or as if she hasn't used it in a long time, or as if she's full of feeling, "How very interesting, Lady Yosannah. I have never observed someone work the magic of the cards before. Do you take the magic from the card and transform it into matter?"
Yosannah's gaze remains intent on the object before her. "Yes. Though I don't need the cards the way most artists do, it is far easier to imbue an object such as this," she holds up the box, "when I have a physical tarot to draw power from."
Lisle says, "Well, let us try this then, though I should like to compare techniques with you at some point. I cannot help but think all these magics are related to more general laws, which I am trying to formulate."
Yosannah nods, seemingly in agreement, "Somehow I don't doubt it." She nears the woman and holds out the box, waiting for Lisle to open her own, "Within and above then."
Lisle says, "Yes," then smiles at Yosannah. It is the kind of smile that implies respect. She lifts the lid, and says, "Probably nothing will happen," but there is some bit of apprehension in her voice.
She gives Lisle one final, disconverting glance before lowering her tiny box into Lisle's larger - holding her breath all the while...
It is only when the concentric boxes are fixed together, and the top lid closed, that the vibrations begin. A slow rattling. Lisle exchanges a glance with Yosannah and steps back, eyebrows arched, motioning that, "Perhaps we had best step back," her voice wavering a very little bit. In seconds the rattling is more vigorous, the box dancing across the surface of the bar until its stopped by glasses, which begin to rattle in turn. And then all is silent. Too silent. As if time has stopped and Lisle's face, surprised eyes, settles just in time to feel the blast.
It is not an explosion. It is a force that is difficult to detect, like a lifting, and parting. And in less than 10 minutes the room has been divested of Lisle, Yosannah, and most of the marble topped bar. Dust settles, the Academy settles.
Elsewhere...
Infinite worlds pass and shift in the span of a breath. Time loses significance and reality crumbles about Yosannah. There is only silence save for the thudding sound of her own heartbeat within her temples. Then, abruptly, a the sound of rushing air as she plummets downward and lands with a:
"Whoooosh!"
All around her, feathers. Floating and filling her nostrils. She waves a hand before her eyes and coughs, "Pffft, Pffft... of all the ... pffft.. places in the world... pffft. What are the goddamn chances..."
Elsewhere...
Not too far from the Academy of Magic and Landen, Lisle lands without the benefit of feathers, lands hard, on her behind, on the steps of a cathedral in some distant land where bare midriffs aren't that common. Her groan gets the attention of a few bystanders who gasp at the golden hair, the flash of sapphires. It is Thari they speak, and there is murmuring about 'the goddess' and 'the devil'. Murmuring enough that Lisle lifts a hand to her head, and overhearing groans, "I knew we should have started with simple sorcery." All the while, her hand is fishing in her jeans pocket, for a card. Just as people creep up toward her, hands reaching to touch the hem of her jeans. Another hand reaching for her high heeled shoe.
When Lisle disappears into the rainbow sparkles, the shoe is left behind, left as an Amber momento to a somewhat failed experiment.
Elsewhere...
"It's early," Danny urged. "What's the rush, baby."
She smiled coyly and slid from the boy's arms, "Mah daddy is gonna hunt you down and shoot yew if Ahm not home by ten-thirty, Danny. An yew know it."
He smiled at the girl and kicked his foot into the sand, "Awe, heck, jus' one more little... what the hell?!"
The girl followed his gaze as it peered up into the night sky, "Jesus, what is..."
"Look out!"
Diving for her, Danny tackled her just in time to save them both from the large marble bar that fell from the sky.
"Boom!"
When the sand finally settled the pair rose slowly from the beach, "Danny, what is that?!"
"I dunno, Emma. I don't s'pose your daddy is gonna believe us anyway when we tell 'em this."