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October 5, 2004 |
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| Amber | Trump Deck | Logs | RL Pictures | Main |
Main Hall - Gryphonhall, Avalon…
Swooping up into the heart of the mountain, the main chamber of the Gryphonhall is a cool, open space some fourty feet high. Startlingly stark against the far wall, torchlight caught on its silver embroidery, is Corwin's flag - a silver rose on a black field. Other banners soften the hard grey walls, muffling a portion of the echoes that ring through the hall. A hearty oak table dominates the northeast side of the room, smaller tables arranged to face it. Beneath Corwin's flag, a fire rages in a monstrous fireplace. It is a vast space, this hall; a transformation of stony embrace into something entirely airier.
To the north and east, hallways sweep into the wings of Gryphonhall, the palace library in one and various sitting rooms and studies in the other. Flanking the fireplace, thick oak doors open into the throne room while the great staircase scales the walls to an upper hallway.
Bridget is giving Merlin an amused look, and Corwin, well, he might be napping in his chair. Old men are prone to such things.
Yosannah descends the great staircase and is probably heard before she is seen as her footsteps echo through the main hall. She appears not to notice the group as of yet, distracted and fidgeting with her chain shirt.
Merlin turns on his heel and steps over to meet her Yosannah near the bottom of the staircase.
Adriana turns to Bridget and tilts her head, not quite sure how to handle this situation.
Bridget greets, "Yosannah. How are you today? Did you rest well?'
Yosannah pauses before Merlin as she clears the landing, looking at him squarely as she responds to ridget, "Well enough, Lady. I'm afraid I have been something of a fuss."
Adriana looks back to Yosannah, starting to say something but stops and just sits her tea.
Bridget gestures vaguely, dismissively. "Not at all. You know you're welcome here any time."
Merlin stands there, looking back, but he seems to be somewhat at a loss for words.
Adriana smiles up to Yosannah and mentions, "If you wanted to change you are welcome to any of the clothes in my room.. If that would help at least." she seems rather confident at the begining gradually changing to an unsure statement at the end.
A soft smile is given for Adriana's benefit and Yosannah offers to the Empress, though Merlin holds her gaze, "Thank you, Lady. Perhaps when you have a free moment, I, no doubt, owe you and Adriana a conversation." There is a pause before states, "Hello, Merle."
Bridget says, “Now is a good time.”
Merlin gestures to the table where the others sit. He extends his hand to Yosannah, “Join us.”
Yosannah considers for a moment and then extends her own hand, sliding her fingers into Merlin’s.
Merlin gives her hand a gentle squeeze, then turns, leading back to rejoin the others.
Yosannah follows after Merlin. As they near the table her eyes narrow as she looks upon Corwin's silent form, "That man can sleep anywhere, can't he."
Adriana smiles at Yo and then turns to Corwin. "It would seem so."
Yosannah gestures to a nearby chair and waits for direction so that she might sit.
Merlin releases Yosannah's hand and nods towards the table. "There's some food here too, apparently, if you're hungry."
Yosannah settles her self and shakes her head to indicate that she is not hungry. To Bridget she inquires, "I wonder what the Lady, Adriana told you of last night's events." She looks between the women.
Adriana answers simply and tilts her head, "Just what happened I guess. The bird and Angel thing." she sips her tea.
Yosannah looks to Bridget in expectation.
Bridget asks “Yes, please, I would understand a little better regarding what ocured.”
Yosannah crosses her arms over her chest and rests a hand on her chin, thoughtful, "Would that I understood myself, Empress. I think that the Lady, Adriana observed a manifestation of one of Avalon's archtype beings." She shrugs her shoulders on this point.
Adriana turns to Bridget nodding and turns back to Yosannah, "It looked like a.. It had Blue wings and its skin was grey. It had claws, not your typical angel but . . It went after that Bird, you screamed after it.. I wish I could remember what you said.."
Bridget regards Yosannah for a time, "Perhaps there's something else at hand too."
Yosannah mutters, "Me too..." She adjust her attention to Bridget, "How do you mean?"
Adriana begins to think, trying hard to remember what Yo said. She taps her chin.
Bridget points out, "Two things manifested, right?"
Yosannah looks to Adriana to answer Bridget's question.
Adriana starts to mutter to herself, "P... Pest, pest something." she ohs and turns to Bridget, "Yeah two things. The bird first then the angel."
Yosannah inquires, "What do you take it to mean, Empress."
Bridget says simply, "Something wars with your Phoenix nature."
Adriana tilts her head to Yosannah and then looks back to Bridget. "What?"
Yosannah's gaze narrows as she considers Bridget's words. Her she bites her lips closed.
Merlin sits listening, still and quiet, except for the occasional clicking sound that might be the grinding of teeth.
Bridget begins, "Look, I dont' understand all that happened, when things were wonky here in Avalon but I do feel rather confident that things happened for a reason. You were given the power of rebirth. Somehow, the Seraphim felt that you were the one, the right one."
Bridget says "Why is that?"
Adriana just listens to Bridget now and then turns back to Yosannah. A tennis match now.
Yosannah opens her mouth to comment but no sound is forthcoming. She exhales and lowers her gaze to her lap.
Bridget offers, gently, "You're welcome to stay here until you work it out. I have a feeling you should."
Adriana nods, "You can use my room if you need, or . . what ever." she says gently.
Bridget grins, "I'm certain should she wish to stay, we can manage another room or three."
Adriana blushes, "Forgot you guys have so many rooms here." she sips her tea.
Yosannah nods, reflective. "Thank you both." After a moment she suggests, "Perhaps another line of conversation."
Adriana says, "I got a trump of my room yesterday, it has proven very, very helpful already." she is good at changing subjects.
Yosannah suggests, "Handy objects, yes."
Adriana nods, "Loki has been very helpful getting me situated with shadow." she sips her tea.
Yosannah raises a brow and inquires, "Loki?"
Bridget muses, "I know a Loki, must be one and the same."
Yosannah nods for Bridget's sake, seemingly in agreement. To Adriana she asks, "Did Loki draw this tarot for you then? Of your room?"
Adriana nods in response to Yosannah and sips her tea again, "Yeah, a man I know he comes around here sometimes. He draws them, very nice man." she turns to Bridget, "Probably; short spiked hair?"
Adriana smiles to Yosannah, "He does some amazing things with the cards, magic I have never seen before. Dai says I should be carefull around him but I don't think he would hurt a fly."
Merlin exhales. "I've heard that before."
Yosannah lets her gaze slide to Merlin, "Me too." Her tone is vaguely accusing.
Adriana raises her eyebrow at Merlin and sips her tea, "Hmm?" She nods and fans them out.. The eleventh house, her room, the main settlement in Avalon and a large mall. Not to mention the one of him. "Yeah."
Bridget eyes the cards as well, but only nods.
Yosannah leans forward and asks of the girl, "Have you used all of them yet?"
Adriana uhhs, and looks them all over. "All but this one." she indicates the Mall, "Why?"
Yosannah extends her hand and inquires, "May I?" She is obviously referring to the tarots themselves.
Adriana glances to Bridget but then just shrugs and nods. "Sure." she offers them over to Yo.
Bridget tells Adriana, "Not all cards are what they seem to be sometimes."
Adriana is not quite sure about what Bridget says, but she nods anyway taking it for what its worth.
Merlin nods at this, grunting faintly in agreement.
Mercedes comes down the great staircase cautiously, one hand on the railing. She stops at the sight of all the people
Yosannah offers a soft smile to the girl as she takes the cards. Starting with the "mall" she holds a hand over the item. She lets her gaze go deep into the image thereon. After a moment she nods, seemingly satisfied. "The Empress is correct. And though you trust the man, be weary in the future. This card, however, is safe, Lady Adriana." She returns the things to her.
Bridget looks past Yosannah to Mercedes, "Ah, here's our other guest." A table is lain out with food and drink, the four of them sit around it.
Adriana takes them back and smiles to Yosannah. "Well thank you for checking them for me. I have to say I am getting a little worried about being around him recently, everyone talking they way they do." she looks up, "What did he do?"
Yosannah leans near the girl and mutters lightly, "Ask me again sometime." She turns her attention to Mercedes' arrival.
Mercedes reaches the bottom of the staircase, and bows respectfully. She gives Bridget a smile. "I am glad to see you again, m'Lady."
Adriana nods to Yosannah and smiles looking up at Mercedes again.
Bridget flashes a smile, gesturing in invite, "Come join us. Merlin, Yosannah, Adriana, this is Mercedes." Mercedes approaches. She offers the woman a slight inclination of her chin in greeting.
Yosannah rises as Mercedes approaches. She offers the woman a slight inclination of her chin in greeting.
Adriana blinks as Merlin is introduced, the gears click in her mind and she looks shocked for a few seconds her gaze turning and locking on him. She snaps out of it and sips her tea.
Mercedes turns to Merlin and Yosannah. "I'm pleased to meet you."
Adriana nods to Bridget, "We met last night I think."
Corwin stirs in his chair. Yawning, of course.
Lugh enters the room from the stairs. He pauses upon seeing the gathering, then approaches with a smile. "Good Afternoon."
Mercedes seems bewildered by all the new arrivals, but then settles down as they are both people she recognizes. She gives both Lugh and Corwin a shy smile.
Corwin mutters, "Quite a crowd we got here," to himself.
Yosannah interjects, "Unfortunately, I have some matters to attend to. Empress, If you don't mind, I'd like to accept your offer and take you up on that room."
Mercedes ventures, "I'm sorry I slept so long."
Bridget quirks a smile at Corwin, "I know, it's not much like the old days, old man."
Lugh smiles at Mercedes, and dips into a small bow. "Good afternoon."
Bridget nods at Yosannah, "Certainly."
Yosannah nods thankfully at Bridget and waits for instruction. She offers Merlin a sidelong glance and a forced smile.
Merlin rises to his feet. "Why don't I walk you there," he says.
Corwin says "Who're you calling ... enh, I guess you got a point." He tells Mercedes, "Don't worry about. You /can/ sleep, and you /want/ to sleep, it's probably a good idea you /do/ sleep."
Mercedes says "It took me a while."
"Um..." Yosannah looks from Merlin to Bridget, "If that's okay."
Bridget nods at Merlin, telling Yosannah, "He won't bite."
Mercedes asides to Lugh, "Thank you for coming to check on me."
Merlin turns to Bridget, his brows raised.
Adriana is slightly overwhelmed by all the new people and the talk, she just sinks into her chair and looks around.
Yosannah nods meekly, "Of course." She gestures for Merlin, "After you." She says to the others, "Take care everyone."
Adriana nods, "Have a good night." to Yosannah.
Mercedes bows to Yosannah in farewell. Then she heads, perhaps predictably, for the table of food.
You ascend the great stairs, spiraling up around the perimeter of the main hall. Some twenty feet up, the stairs open into a hallway that cuts into the mountain.
Upper Hallway - Gryphonhall, Avalon…
Cut against the face of the mountain, this hallway is amply lit by open windows and warmed with wall hangings and greenery. Carefully placed vines and brightly filled pots lend a surprising comfort to the corridor, while a wooly rug warms the stone. Far above, the head of the gryphon is carved into the face of the mountain. Various doors lead to the private quarters of the royal family and the great stairs lead down to the main hall.
Merlin climbs up from the main hall.
Yosannah follows after him, quiet. She tugs a bit at her shirt, seemingly distracted.
Merlin's pace is unhurried. "So..." he says. "Are you doing all right? I was really worried about what I heard earlier."
Yosannah lifts her gaze to regard him, "It's nothing you need concern yourself over, Merlin." She seems to make a point out of using his formal name though it lacks familiarity. She ceases fidgeting, however, and adds, "You know me."
Merlin stops abruptly. "Look, I'm sorry, okay?" he says, "I know I have plenty of reasons to be sorry, and I don't expect that to be good enough. But..."
Yosannah is forced to stop abruptly too. She inclines her head, curious, manner even and calm, "But what." She shrugs her shoulders.
Merlin says "But... don't think I don't care."
Yosannah lets her gaze linger on him for a long moment. She shakes her head, "It's never been about caring, Corey. I know that." She nods, "You call the shots. You always have. That's just the way it is. And I've accepted that. There's not much else to say, is there."
Merlin opens his mouth, obviously certain there is more to say, but not a lot comes out.
Yosannah nods, obviously not in the least bit surprised with the reaction. Or lack thereof as the case may be. She asks, instead, "What do you want me to do."
Merlin sighs and shakes his head. "I don't know. Do what you want. I just... Well, you know."
Yosannah retorts, "A quicky? Yeah, sure. I got a few." A crooked smile forms on her lips and her arms go across her chest.
Merlin takes a breath and turns, continuing down the hall. "Forget I said anything," he murmurs.
Yosannah exhales a sigh and a smile, She moves after him and reaches a hand out for his shoulder, "Corey. Hey, stop."
Merlin stops. He takes a moment and a breath before turning back around. "Yeah?"
"I'm sorry. I joke because I'm uncomfortable." She nods, serious enough now it seems. "I don't know. I don't know what you mean. So why don't you try and tell me, okay."
Merlin waves vaguely with the book in his hand. "Hell, I don't know what I mean anymore," he says. "Listen. Why don't I come back and see you later, and we'll talk about it then?"
Yosannah nods, agreeable, "All right." She looks this way and that, "Are one of these doors the way to my room then."
Merlin points across from him. "I think that's the one," he says. "Maybe knock first, though. I could be wrong."
Yosannah reaches out her hand and lets it settle on his arm for a moment before she steps away, "Take care then."