May 31, 2005

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Gideon Club - Study...

Posh, though casually and comfortably furnished. This room sits at the front corner of the mansion. Windows are placed such that there is an expansive view of the property. A fireplace is located at the far wall and before it rests a large sofa and a coffee table. The table is cluttered with a few hard-cover books, several magazines and a silver dinner tray which may have once held cheese, crackers and pepperoni but now holds crumbs and a sharp hunting knife. Two lanterns glow softly over a small bar which is obviously of the 'help yourself' variety. A closed doorway is located to one side of the bar and an archway leading out into the hall at the other. Additional furniture is scattered appropriately about the study: a recliner and footstool here, an easy chair and end-table over there. One is easily put at ease in a place such as this.

At first glance this woman is of average build and height and seemingly in her late twenties or early thirties. Her eyes are almond green and her hair is auburn, hanging well below her shoulders in soft waves and clasped at the back of her head. Dressed comfortably, she wears a white linen tank - light, airy and scooping at her neck. Matching pants brush at her ankles and are tied low on her hips. A silver ring adorns her left ring finger and her nails are freshly painted in a French manicure.

Clasped around her right wrist is a delicate, braided band that twines about an opaque stone of white. She wears a small pendant bearing two red gems each no larger in diameter then a dew drop. A scar can be seen running down the right side of her neck.

Settled beside a window in a an antique wooden table chair and a woman of average build and soft features. Her hair is clasped at the back of her head. it is raining outside and she traces a finger down the length of the glass, following after a raindrop.

Dai moves quietly to a recliner and slowly seats himself. In a hoarse, unrecognizable voice he asks, "Does something trouble you mi'lady?"

Dai sits down at The two recliners opposite the bar.

Yosannah snaps her head over her shoulder. Ah, she knows this man. "Dai," a delicate smile follows. She rises now and moves toward him, extending a hand for his sake, "Oh, Dai. How have you been?"

Dai stands about 5 foot eight inches tall with broad shoulders. He is well built with muscles that are well formed but not bulging. He has brown hair but the tips are white. His eyes change colour depending upon his mood but are always flecked with gold. He has a serious mien and his stance, although lethargic in appearance, suggests that he is ready to burst into action at any moment, like a lightning bolt ready to strike. He wears black, leather trousers, the bottoms of which cover most of what appear to be black boots and a katana is buckled at his waist. An unremarkable grey shirt covers his upper body, shoulder holsters containing his two guns strapped over the shirt. Covering all are black robes, hiding his guns and most of the sword at his hip. The cowl is pulled up and casts his face in shadow.

Dai pushes the cowl back, his hands appearing to be crooked, gnarled and broken many times over. He rises, takes her hand and brings the back to his lips as he bows slightly. In his normal voice he says, "Hello Yosannah." He smiles slightly. "I have been as well as can be expected. Yourself?"

Yosannah runs a hand over her forehead so that she might swipe a lose strand of hair from her eyes and tuck it behind her ear. Her smiles fades and she gestures toward the adjacent recliner indicating that she will join him. She settles herself and offers, "Working. Mostly. Back at home." She nods a few small inclinations of her chin. "It's funny that you caught me here. I come here so infrequently now."

Dai resumes his seat and nods. "I noticed. I've missed you. And the others as well. I haven't spoken with Stone in ages. Nor Nash. Last I saw you was here when Ryker and Damen.....did what they did." He looks around. "I miss the good old days," he says with a touch of irony in his voice.

She crosses her arms over her chest and settles her chin in the cup of her hand, smiling thoughtfully at his nostalgia. She offers, "He's still down there, you know. Damen. Probably listening to us right now." She rolls her eyes about the room to demonstrate what she means. "Ryker asked that I not try to find him. Stone is toying in politicts in Amber again. Lisle." She pauses and lets out what can only be a soft chuckle of approval, "Well, she got married. Heh. Imagine that. The wedding was beautiful. If I never see another Amberite the rest of my life it will be too soon."

Dai barks a laugh. "Lisle married eh? That is amusing. As for the Amberites, all I can say is that they can be no worse than the Chaosians." He looks around. "Damen listening to us eh? That can sort of freak a person out you know." He shakes his head. "As for Ryker, I have been searching for him and War for a long time now. To no avail." He flexes his hands causing all of his fingers to pop back into place. He grins, "Looks like we are the last two around here, the others having gone to Neverland."

Yosannah reaches her hand to her shoulder at the back of her neck and suggests, "Neverland. Well then, you should ask Jurt where they are, that sounds like a place he's probably been to once or twice before.."

Dai grunts. "Jurt is a little crazy. He is Captain Hook, Peter Pan, and the croc all rolled into one. Ah, to have multiple personalities." He grins and leans back, causing the foot rest to pop up. "So how are things going with you and Jurt?"

Yosannah furrows her brow and bites at her lower lip, "In truth, I saw him for the first time in many months just last week. So... take that how you will I suppose." She scratches at her neck, absent-mindedly.

Dai chuckles. "Well that may not be a bad thing, considering. Grey actually compared me to Jurt the other night. She didn't know it was me of course. I am going around in cognito. Anyway, he is....random." He pulls out a pack of gum and offers Yo a stick. "Do you miss him much?"

She shakes her head and flitters her fingers to indicate that she'd rather not. "Uh, I guess I do. Sometimes. But, it passes. Me and relationships... they don't work, Dai." She allows for a moment to pass before she repeats, as if reminding herself "They don't work." And then, "Why don't you tell me what you've been up to. What's with the disguise. The hood."

Dai tilts his head and seems about to speak. Then he shrugs as is his habit and has the other stick of gum himself. "Hiding out from some people I upset while looking for my mentor. I have been searching for a long long time and only just recently returned. That and annoying the hell out of everyone I possibly can just because.....well I can and they deserve it. Crimson is probably still debating throwing me into the Abyss. The usual. Oh, and I took care to annoy Magnus the other day as well."

"Oh, god. Magnus?" She rubs her hands over her face, "That guy is still around? Somebody ought to do something about that. What about Zeta? Hasn't she taken care of him yet?"

Dai snorts. "Actually she was screwing him over with her oath to the Serpent when I annoyed him. She seemed to be enjoying herself immensely. Still, without my comment exposing his desire to bed her, I think he may have realized that her oath was pretty much as hollow as his head. She was recently taken back into Chaos, her exile lifted. Said exile being part of why she didn't kill him. War should have finished him off when he had the chance."

"Somethings just don't change I suppose." She turns her head over her shoulder and sets her gaze out the window. What little daylight remained upon Dai's arrival is quickly fading into night. An occasional flicker of heat lightening passes among the clouds. She is silent and distant, and seemingly content with it.

Dai glances over at her and nods. "True enough I suppose. Chaos will always be Chaos. Degenerate and fallen far from what it should be." He rises and heads for the bar. "Would you like a cup of tea? And why so melancholy Yosannah? This is hardly you. You are usually optimistic and upbeat."

Yosannah purses her lips into a soft smile, "Tea, sure, please. And I'm tired, that's all. I have a lot of work to get to." She considers and then asks, "Any news on the other two rings, Dai?"

Dai shakes his head as he pours water into two cup. "Nothing. I have tried hard not to go after the really dangerous one yet. You had warned me against it until the third was recovered." He holds his hands over the cups and soon steam drifts up from between his fingers. "Are you interested in continuing the search for them? Because if you are, I am in one hundred percent." He claims two tea bags and places one in each cup, grinning as he does. "Although I should really bargain with you before telling you that. Probably why I wasn't a great mercenary."