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May 10, 2004 | |
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You stare at the image of Dai...
The image of the picture comes into focus. Dai stands about 5 foot eight inches tall with broad shoulders. In the background:
Placed in the middle of the street, between Hardwell's Snuff Shoppe and the Lending Library, this is a unique carrousel.
The image of Dai is sitting at a Unicorn table. "Hello?"
To the image of Dai, Yosannah peers at your surroundings before ocmmenting. Eyeing the carrousel.
To the image of Dai, Yosannah says "Where the hell are you?"
The image of Dai says "I'm somewhere in Shadow chatting with Ryker. Gaslight I think."
The image of Dai says "Where are you and what's up?"
To the image of Dai, Yosannah purses her lips and seems to exhale, "Home. For a change. We were talking about something the other day and we got cut short so..." Her train of thought trails off and she changes topics, "What is Ryker doing in Gaslight?"
The image of Dai says "We're talking. Let me ssee if he minds if you join us."
To the image of Dai, Yosannah says "Dai it's really... Alright, fine."
The image of Dai says "It's really what Yo? He's thinking about it by the way. Might as well chat while we wait."
To the image of Dai, Yosannah intones in your mind, "I was going to say it's not all that important that you need interrupt what you're doing." Her gaze goes sidelong to regard something out of your sight.
The image of Dai says "Ehn. It's no big deal. Which thing were you referring to by the way? Loki or the whole 'not an explosion' thing?"
To the image of Dai, Yosannah replies, "Loki, of course." She smirks, crooked, "I was pretty up front with the 'explosion' thing, wasn't I?"
The image of Dai grins and corrects, "You were acting like you were being upfront. You certainly didn't tell me everything or what exactly you and Lisle are up to. Oh, come through." He offers his hand.
The image of Dai offers to pull you through.
You grasp Dai's hand and he pulls you through.
Carrousel Ices - Gaslight...
Placed in the middle of the street, between Hardwell's Snuff Shoppe and the Lending Library, this is a unique carrousel. The fanciful animals are tables that slowly revolve around a miniature mechanical orchestra. Critics might complain that the music sounds a trifle tinlike but the carefully articulated little musicians more than make up for it. The carrousel is protected from the weather by an ornate tent that is open on all sides. The supports are carved pillars that house still more mechanical creations ranging from a tiny safari to a miniature horse race that many patrons actually place wagers on. The patrons who come here also enjoy the frozen or creamed ices. For the ladies, there is a wide range of fruit flavors. For the gentlemen, there are even some with alcohol.
There is a recent addition to here-a pillar that is wrapped now in glittering webs and dewdrops of Fay magick. Perhaps it is a portal to somewhere beyond the Veil.
Sparkling with glamour:
The tables are actually sentient. Occasionally one will stretch around to steal an ice though usually a luckless waiter is blamed for the missing beverage. Mostly quiet they do banter back and forth - usually with something unflattering about one of the patrons. They seem to have a great dislike for the very heavy or very messy people.
Yosannah says, "...I always say exactly what I mean to." And then, "Hello, Ryker."
Dai grunts. "I didn't say you lied Yosannah. I am merely saying that you didn't tell me everything. There's a difference between meaning what you say and being careful about what you say." He winks and stands, pulling out a chair and holding it for Yo.
Ryker returns, "Yosannah." Adjusts his posture a little.
Ryker nods at Dai. "Glad you're in."
Yosannah's gaze lingers on Ryker for only a moment. She slides casually into the offered chair, "Now see, that's the problem. You're so used to half truths and secret, clandestined hoo-ha, that you can't see the whole story when I throw it in your face."
Ryker warns him, "Think carefully though. Whoever it is, I plan to send someone out in the field with men. I can't assure your safety. I may not be there to cover you, and reinforcements are certain to be short of immediate."
Yosannah looks between Ryker and Dai now. Her jaw works quietly.
Dai slides the chair in a bit as Yo sits. He nods to Ryker. "No charge boss." He rolls his eyes at Yosannah's comment as he resumes his own seat. "You told me the WHAT. Not the WHY or HOW. Which are very important parts to the story." He shrugs to Ryker. "I have my own resources to add to yours. Riva will most likely give me men if I want or need them. I'll bring Ithius along as well. He's a genious and can probably come up with some toys to keep me alive."
Yosannah's brow knots above her nose, "Whoa, wait a minute. What are you guys talking about here?"
Dai says "We're talking about using an army to win your hand in marriage for Ryker here."
Yosannah rolls her eyes upward and mumbles something to the heavens. "Well, boo hoo. Sorry, but I'm saving myself for someone else."
Dai bats his eyes at Yo and smiles sweetly. "I already told you Yo, you don't have to save yourself for me. I'm already yours."
Ryker merely purses his lips, making no comment. He instead looks for a waiter.
Yosannah blinks, jaw gapping slightly. She shakes her head, quickly and turns, instead to Ryker, "You're gonna send Dai and Riva to fight for you?" She adds, "And Ithius? Ryker, what are you doing?"
The server eventually brings Ryker his dark ale.
Yosannah reaches for the server before he departs, "I'll have the same. Thanks."
Dai frowns. "He's not sending anyone anywhere Yosannah. You know the old saying about assuming things right?"
Yosannah waves a hand, dismissively, "Semantics."
The server eventually brings Dai his red beer.
Ryker informs Yosannah, vague, "I'm training Dai here in how to lead armies. I'm giving him men, and he's going to do his best to lead them. Trial by fire. That is the gist of it."
Dai sips his beer and lets Yosannah and Ryker chat.
Yosannah nods, serious enough, "Right. Against who?"
Dai scratches his head as if he is trying to figure something out.
Yosannah encourages, "Come on. Who?"
Dai grins at Ryker. "Go ahead. Tell her." He seems to be finding something very amusing.
A dark ale is delivered to their table and placed before Yosannah.
Yosannah crosses her arms atop the table and looks between the two men, a feigned smile plays on her lips as she waits.
Dai stage whispers to Ryker, "She's obviously not going to believe that you have the hots for her so make up a lie to satisfy her." He sips his beer again.
Ryker tell Yosannah, "Begma. I'm still waring there."
Yosannah nods and bites at her lower lip. Her chin goes over her shoulder and her gaze searches beyond the tented carrousel. "Yeah," is her only reply.
Ryker flicks a glance that way, but seems to stay more focused here.
Ryker double-checks with Dai. "So you have no concerns about being a field marshall?"
Dai stretches, glancing over to where Yo is glancing. "Nope. Not really. I point my men in the right direction, kill anybody that attempts to harm the locals, all that fun stuff. I'll even let the men plunder the enemy dead if they want to. The only thing I really need to know is how long I will be in the field at a time."
A crooked smirk escapes Yosannah's lips, though the men might not notice it. She shakes her head, subtle.
Ryker frowns.
Dai rolls his eyes. "Note to self, you're kind of humour is lost on some," murmurs to himself.
Yosannah mutters, under her breath, "You talk like your father."
Ryker takes a deep swallow of ale, then sets it a little roughly on the table top. He pushes himself a little straighter in the chair, armor noisy. "You can't be cavalier about this, Dai. We are talking real lives and real risks. This is not a petty..." He continues, with a growing scowl, "...petty little fight in the World's End. This is an Amberite fighting their way along their personal agenda. This is real war."
Yosannah's gaze makes its way to Ryker. Intent and obviously disapproving. Her arms fold over her chest.
Ryker ignores the gaze, intent on Dai.
Dai frowns and looks Ryker right in the eye, not intimidated. Softly he says, "I am cavalier about these things now, Ryker, because it is how I deal with things when they are not occuring, nonchalantly. I assure you, when the time comes, I will be serious enough and your enemy will come to regret his or her little attacks."
Yosannah is unable to supress a disgusted chuckle, "... dear me."
Dai adds, "And plundering the enemy dead should net you with enough money that you can give to those who have lost in these attacks. That'll do a lot for morale and the faith Begma will place in you."
Ryker turns his scowl on Yosannah, chest puffing. "If this is too much, you can leave."
Yosannah offers Ryker a coy smile. It fades quickly and her attention goes to Dai, "Don't do this."
Dai blinks at Yosannah. "Why not?"
Ryker doesn't interrupt, letting Yosannah answer.
Yosannah looks to Ryker, "This is Joshua, isn't it? Were you going to make that clear? Or the fact that Dai's sister is so tied to that man and new wife right now that he'll pay more then just your soldiers if he gets involved." Her tone is even, "And for what? Some personal gripe the two of you have with one another."
Dai says "Uh, excuse me Yosannah, how exactly is my sister tied to 'that man and his wife'?"
Yosannah obviously hears Dai's question but she hesitates, intent on Ryker and his reaction, if any.
Ryker explains for Dai, regaining his patience with a calming breath, "She means the fact that Riva is married to Paul, who is now oathed to De'alund, whose Regent is Celestrina, Joshua's new wife."
Ryker returns his near constant squint to Yosannah, continuing, "Which would possibly being an outside concern, if in fact Joshua was the one invading Begma." He looks Yosannah in the eye as he states, slow and clear, "Which he is not."
Yosannah says "And what if you're wrong, Ryker."
Dai frowns at everyone, clearly unhappy about something.
Ryker rolls his shoulders under the plate and chain, reaching for his tankard again. "Did you have anything else to add, Yosannah?"
Yosannah rises, focus on Dai, "He's right, Dai. You certainly can't be cavalier. But as much as Ryker knows, he doesn't know everything. And he certainly doesn't have the family ties that you do." She flicks a glance in Ryker's direction, "Not anymore." With that she steps away from the table.
Dai mutters something at the table and looks to Yosannah. "Yo, if it is indeed Joshua, and my suspicions on what he is after are correct, then I will stand beside Ryker as I stood beside the Four when Joshua first declared war on the Four. As for my family ties, if you mean Riva, I suggest that you speak with her before throwing around the fact that my brother in-law swore to De'alund. If you mean Yrymyss, I am a relative only having been exiled after my last encounter with Joshua. If it is not Joshua, then I have other reasons for being involved."
Yosannah is obviously disinterested at this point, she departs the carrousel, thumbs hooked in her rear pants pockets. Walking out into the street she begins to shimmer in rainbow light...
Ryker snorts. He says to Yosannah, "I understand more than you do."
Later, a trump call...
To the image of Ryker, Yosannah intones, "I was excpecting you."
The image of Ryker is a bit bland. "As you should have, given your earlier remarks. I don't see why you would have said them."
To the image of Ryker, Yosannah intones, "Perhaps I should come to you."
The image of Ryker frowns some. Obviously not his first preference. But he extends a calloused hand anyway.
The image of Ryker offers to pull her through.
Pirate's Cove...
You find yourself in a huge cavern, dimly lit by torches that line the walls. This place has a dank and musty smell to it that constantly battles against the biting scent of the saltly sea. You can hear the quiet lapping of waves as the deep water laps against the edge of the raised stone floor of the cave. There's an old wooden pier that leads off the middle of the stone ledge and looms over the dark water. The pier is just long enough for a ship to dock along either side of it.
The dry part of the cavern is full of crates and barrels, some of them scattered about the floor, others piled high along the walls. The containers are labeled with all sorts of markings in all manners of languages. There are three side tunnels leading off from the main cavern. Down the first tunnel, you can see a small room containing a table with papers spread out on it and some wooden cabnets. Peering into the second corridor, you see an even smaller room with heavy metal cabinets along the walls. The third tunnel quickly fades into darkness, and you can't see where it leads to. Every now and then, you can see a dim glow of light reflecting off the water and against the wall of the large passage that leads back out to sea.
Currently, this seems more a place of solitude than active merchantism. A living presence here is uncommon.
Yosannah suggests, immediately, "The comment about your family was uncalled for. Let me apologize for that up front."
Ryker drops your hand and steps back, instead gripping his hips. Still gruff, "I thought so as well. Where did it come from?"
Yosannah exhales, "Your tone and a certain implication that I was being dismissed. You have a tendancy to do that where I am concerned. It reminds me of Damen. And of Stone. I hate it."
Ryker points out, "I haven't done that for awhile. If I'd really wanted to be pointed, I'd have simply said 'you can leave'. Instead I tried to give you a window for actually adding something to the conversation beyond murmurs and noises." Unlike earlier, Ryker neither scowls nor seems mad.
Yosannah stares for a lengthy moment, "You are absolutely obtuse. Ryker..." She shakes her head, "Isn't Dai's adoration of you obvious? He'll do anything you ask of him but he won't think through the consequences. He can't because he /is/ cavalier. I raised the questions for him because he can't do it himself. And either you can't see that or you don't care. Tell me it's not the latter, Ryker. Because I can't take it if it is."
Ryker bahs, waving a hand at you and turning to walk. Not away, just around. "You give me so much credit. What you refuse to account for the majority of the discussion you missed, which consisted of the same objections you brought up." He corrects, "Moreso, even. As I said when you departed; I understand the situation much better than you. Including Dai's attitude towards me. /Unlike/ you, I was once a young man trying to make it. Like Dai."
Yosannah stares after him. "And look at you now."
There might even be pity in her stare.
Yosannah inquires, "So, tell me, Ryker. Have you /made/ it?"
Ryker doesn't look at her, walking the room. So familiar with it is he, he doesn't watch where he walks either, his attention instead inward.
It's Yosannah's turn to wave a dissmisive hand. Her arms go over her chest and her gaze goes sidelong.
Ryker doesn't answer right away. And when he does, its not an answer. "Dai doesn't need to follow in my footsteps. But right now, he thinks he wants to command armies. And he'll try to do so with or without me." He states with confidence, "He's better off with me. He'll have help I never did."
Yosannah is obviously disapproving as evidenced by the tightly focused stare she burns into the cave wall. She offers through a clenches jaw, "Don't fail him, Ryker."
Ryker turns his aging squint over on her, pausing his pacing. "Tell me why you care so much." Demanding.
Yosannah's gaze goes upward in an effort to choke back emotion. She's successful for the moment, "For the same reason I keep working though you tell me it's a waste of time. For the same reason I let myself fall in ..." She exhales, a short exhileration of breath, "Heh. Because it's how I keep my sanity through all of this. How I keep my humanity. I don't have family anymore Ryker. If I lose my humanity, I'll have nothing."
Ryker mmms, just loud enough to make it the few meters over to you. Deep. "Funny. When you made your bitting comment about me not having family, anymore, it almost sounded like you meant you."
"Maybe, Ryker. And maybe I just didn't realize it at the time."
Ryker simply promises, "Well, then, I'll do my best." As he resumes his stroll, he starts to fade away, distantly requesting, "Don't linger here..."
Ryker moves forward and vanishes, leaving behind a rapidly fading afterimage.
Yosannah whispers in the quiet dark, "I know you will..."