Main Page |
* Dawn knocks on Jewel's door, then repeats the coded knock in case he's woken her. He checks his boots while he waits for her to open the door, grimacing and scraping some gunk off on the top of the stairs. "Does he even *own* a broom?" <Dusk> {Pot, kettle...} <Dawn> Magic's gotta be good for something besides blowing things up. * Dusk affects extreme shock that such words could possibly emerge from his partner's mouth, then ducks Dawn's lazy backhand. * Jewel opens the door halfway through the second knock, obviously not in bed, although dressed for it. A fuzzy robe covers her nightgown completely, and what's on her feet look suspiciously like bunny slippers. A half-finished cup of tea, already cold,sits on the table near the window. * Dawn grins. "Waiting up? What about your beauty sleep?" * Jewel rolls her eyes at him. "Are you implying I need it?" Her smile is weak, and she shrugs a shoulder listlessly. "Couldn't sleep. Is there news?" <Dawn> Oh, yes. Good news, even. Going to let us in? * Jewel perks up a little, stepping back from the door and waving them in. "Leave your boots at the door, if you would. I don't even what to *know* what you've been getting on them, but I can smell it from here." * Jewel nods to the boot bench just inside the door. * Dawn kicks his boots off with something like relief. "Stripes doesn't live in the most hygienic of spots. *I'm* not sure I want to know what's on them." He sits on the couch, then gets up again, pacing the apartment. Dusk shakes his head and takes over Dawn's abandoned spot. * Jewel cocks her head, looking curious. "If his shop is so nasty to visit, how does he--" She stops and shakes her head. "Never mind, I'm probably better not knowing." <Dawn> ::shrugs:: He really only takes customers by appointment. Maybe he cleans up for the ones he expects. <Jewel> Hm... wonder if he'd... no, no. ::sits, pulling her robe close as if it's cold, although the night's been mild:: So... what news? <Dawn> News... Stripes' cousin is, in fact, one of the mage-guards. Better, in fact, she wants *in*, and is willing to help us rather substantially in order to secure our goodwill. <Dawn> Of course, she loses a great deal of value if she blows her cover, so... ::he eyes Dusk:: Are you sure about this? <Jewel> Substantially? How substantial? Will she help us get him out? ::bites her lip, looking more alert:: <Dawn> Aye. ::grins tightly:: She intends to assist us in a deception. <Jewel> ::cocks her head, looking uneasy:: She knows these Infinity people are there, right? What sort of deception? <Dawn> I assume so. We didn't discuss it. Whether she knows about them or not, there's not much she can do to avoid them. She will slip him a... concoction she knows of. It will put him into a... trance state. He will appear dead - and as there's no value in keeping a dead man's body, they'll dump him in the common graveyard. We only have to dig him up again. <Jewel> ::chewing on her lower lip as she thinks:: I can't say I like it entirely, but it doesn't sound too bad. Although... angry as that Vander was with Tanmim, I wouldn't put using his corpse for target practice beyond her. ::shudders, and frowns:: But there's another problem: the right sort of telepath would know in two heartbeats that he's shamming it. <Dawn> ::shrugs, pacing still:: There are more problems, as well. The potion is good for twenty-four hours. If we don't give him the antidote before that time is up, he really will die. And... ::he look at Dusk:: ...Vander's got an interest we hadn't counted on. * Jewel swallows hard. Her hands, already clasped in her lap, turn pale as the knuckles whiten. "Tell me." * Dawn picks up some knicknack, looking at it without really seeing it. "Near as we can tell... she's his sister, or some variant of relative. In his wound-fever, he thought she was his mother." <Dawn> Stripes' cousin doesn't think *she* knows about it. But if she pieces it together... who knows what she'll do? <Jewel> His-- Helana's? ::shakes her head:: He... ::faintly:: he said her name? Maybe she just *looks* like her... the mage said he was delirious? <Dawn> I didn't hear about any names. Just that he mistook her for his mother - and that the idea continues to linger in his mind. So far, they're dismissing it as delirium, though. <Jewel> ::turning her head away for a moment, putting her hand to her mouth:: Oh, gods... Angel... <Jewel> ::takes a deep breath to settle herself:: We're getting him out, though? Soon? <Dawn> Aye. She's mixing the potion tonight, and it'll be in his breakfast in the morning. Tomorrow evening, we'll be at the graveyard, shovels and antidote in hand. <Jewel> ::narrows her eyes in thought:: The graveyard... it's that field, back of the jail? * Dawn nods, putting the knicknack back and pacing some more. <Jewel> ::nods decisively:: Too close for loitering... if I come with you, I can shield you from the psionicists. Just in case something goes wrong. <Dawn> ::turns to look at her:: No doubt he'd appreciate having you close by, first thing, but... it'll be awfully dangerous, gorgeous. <Jewel> ::nods tightly:: I know that. I promise, I'll stay out of the way as much as I can. But we can't risk you two like this. ::looking back and forth between them:: I know you don't want to trust this to someone else, but... you two are in charge, while he's gone. What happens to the Guild if they pinch *you* two in the middle of this? You're the ones they're looking for, after all. * Dawn shrugs. "I've had my neck on the line before. My mandate from the boss is to keep *you* safe." * Jewel opens her mouth in surprise, and then closes it, biting her lip again. "Dawn... I'm... I don't know what to say. It means a lot to me that you'd still protect me for him, despite the risk. But..." Her eyes widen in appeal. "...*think* of the risk. You two are in *charge* of the Guild while he's in there, and you know how thin we're stretched already! We can't risk *you*, either. Hells, the two of you are worth ten of me!" <Dawn> Not to *his* mind, we're not. Do you have any idea how furious he'd be, if you got so much as bruised? Never mind fucking around with some mindbender group that for all we know could turn you into a vegetable? It's ridiculous. Dusk, tell her- ::he stops with a snort as he realizes Dusk has fallen asleep on the couch. He shakes his head and looks back at Jewel:: It's ridiculous. <Jewel> ::glances at the sleeping Dusk, lowering her voice to a fierce stage whisper:: Ridiculous is going up against psionics with no support! Unless you've another one you're going to pull out of the woodwork? Eyes is *gone,* and I'm all you've got. <Jewel> Furious I can deal with, Dawn. D-- ::her voice breaks:: dead I can't. Not again. Please, not again. * Dawn looks like he's on the edge of angry, himself. "You're not the one he'll be angry *at*, are you?" <Jewel> Dammit, Dawn! You *know* he's not rational when it comes to me. But you don't have that luxury. I'm not just talking to you as his wife, I'm talking to you as a Guildmember. If they take you, where exactly will that leave us? Have you tapped a successor already? Bie? Snowman, maybe? Who's next to get taken? <Dawn> No, there is no successor. There's no one else who's qualified, not yet. As you know. ::he paces restlessly:: Dammit, don't you think I know that? Don't you think I know what kind of fucking danger we're in? If it was up to me- But it's *not*, is it? <Jewel> ::opens her mouth to respond hotly, and stills, a thoughtful look in her eyes:: ...isn't it? * Dawn is brought up short by her look. "What?" <Jewel> ::licks her lips, the wheels almost visibly turning behind her eyes:: Mace wears the ring... but what's supposed to happen if the ringwearer's out of commission? Personal business, or sickness or injury, or... prison? <Dawn> ::eyes narrowing:: Don't think you'll get around me like that. I still have to answer to him when he's back. <Jewel> Yes, you will. You'll have to answer to him why you let the Guild he entrusted to you go to the lizards. ::softly:: Your job is to keep the whole *Guild* safe while he's gone, not just me. Sure, he might be willing to throw over the Guild for me, Dawn... but can you really let him do it? He was ready to give it up for me once, but... ::shakes her head:: it would have killed him. * Dawn stares at her hard for a long moment, his gaze icy. Finally, he folds his arms over his chest. "You are far, far to clever for your own good. Or my own..." He looks at her calculatingly. "Are you really prepared to take my orders? I'm not going to do this half-assed." <Jewel> ::nods, shoulders sagging a little as the strain leaves them:: I am... as long as you're willing to listen to my advice. ::meeting his eyes:: <Dawn> I'll listen. I don't promise I'll always take it. ::he thumps into a chair and props his foot up on another:: Get used to being tired. First thing is, you're going to tell me everything you know about what you can do, and what the dangers are if I take you out as our shield. And don't leave anything out, or gloss anything over. |
|
|