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* Jewel has the first aid kit disgorged onto the kitchen table, a growing pile of used rags and a diminishing pile of bandages testifying to the amount of damage done to Angel in prison. The Boys are in the bath, getting rid of their gravedigger personas-- or at least the dirt that came with them. * Angel relaxes as much as possible - and with three sips of Dawn's best painkiller in him, that's a remarkable bit of relaxing. However, he still flinches from time to time and his eyes flicker from his wife's face to the floor. * Jewel has the scissors out, and is carefully trimming Angel's hair clear of the scalp wound. Her eyes burn, and her mouth is set in a grim line. "There's a bit of infection here, I think, best let Dusk have a look." Her voice is tight with leashed anger. * Angel picks up a few locks of damp hair, long and still somewhat curly. He turns the lock in his fingers idly. "Lucky to have a brain in my head at all, letting myself get ambushed like that." * Dawn comes in. Freshly cleaned and shaved, with his shabby cloak folded over his arm, he could pass for respectable. "How bad is it?" He leans over Jewel's arm to examine the wound. * Angel holds up the lock of hair, his face twisting into a not-quite-parody of grief. "Bad." <Dawn> Don't beat yourself up too much. They're using mindbenders. ::He rummages through the first-aid kit and comes up with a greenish bottle, which he hands to Jewel:: That should do the infection. <Jewel> ::shakes her head, her tone wry:: Men. They wanted you. Badly, it seems. Unless it's usual for our people to get jumped by a dozen lizards just for walking down the street? * Jewel nods and shakes the bottle before uncorking it, sniffing the contents and wrinkling her nose. "This is going to burn, love, I'm sorry." She leans close, holding his chin lightly in case he twitches as she dabs disinfectant carefully on the bash. * Dawn sits on the edge of the table and puts one foot on a chair. "Why? How'd they even learn there *is* a Guild?" <Dawn> ::after a hesitant pause:: How much did they get out of you? <Angel> ::winces, not quite pulling out of Jewel's grasp:: Damn, what's in that? Horse piss? ::doesn't quite meet Dawn's eyes:: Depends if they had a truth-reader in there, or if they were bluffing. <Dawn> ::mouth twists:: Assume the worst. <Angel> ::bites his lip:: Then you'll probably want to move a few people. Quickly. Breezy, at the very least. Whit, and Ink, too. They knew about her, already, though. <Jewel> ::bites her lip:: It looked like Tan wasn't willing to probe, but... ::shakes her head:: I'd best send Prin that invitation to tea... we have to find out more about them. ::shakes her head:: Tan, at least, isn't a Truthear. Or at least, he hadn't the discipline for it when I knew him. <Dawn> ::pointedly:: You've learned things since you left. Make finding out about them a priority. <Jewel> ::nods:: I can't press her too hard, or she'll want to know why I'm so curious about him. ::smiles wryly:: I could always pretend a crush, but... I'm pretty sure that wouldn't wash. <Dawn> ...and they hadn't already grabbed her? That's interesting. All right. I'll send the orders tonight. Who else? <Dawn> ::to Jewel:: No, ask about the *group*. Tell her you went down to 'quarters to report a mugging, and spotted him. <Angel> ::coughs briefly:: They think Ink is the current lover of the guild head. Don't know where they got *that* idea. <Jewel> ::blinks:: *Ink*? Hunh. Well, I suppose that explains why they didn't come after me.... <Dawn> ::snorts, then looks amused:: Is Smudge supposed to be her daughter? <Angel> You'll want to be careful with that. I'm pretty sure they've got at least two shadows on her. They're waiting for you. <Jewel> ::nods:: There's an idea. ::grins:: I was going to say I saw him in company with the Dragons and worry if he'd been arrested. <Jewel> ::cocks her head:: Do they know it's Dawn they're waiting for? The only person Ink's been paying *regular* visits to lately, I thought, was... well, me. <Dawn> I'll be careful. I'll make up a budget for the Children to act as messengers. No one pays attention to scrawny, dirty kids running all over. <Dawn> ::gives Jewel an unreadable look:: I do make a point of stopping in on her occasionally. * Jewel tips her head at Dawn, eyeing him thoughtfully for a moment before her brow clears. "...ah. Of course." <Dawn> ::considering:: Explains how they found Shiver and Ear, though, I guess. If they acquired half a cup of smarts and followed Smudge... She and Ear are old friends. ::he sighs:: * Angel shifts slightly. <Dawn> ::looks at Angel:: Do they know about Dusk, or is it just me? And do they know I'm a mage? <Angel> ::sighs:: They know, some. They think Bie's Dusk's sister. Or maybe his wife. They're not sure. <Dawn> ::raises his eyebrows:: You spilled them? Fuck, couldn't you have- ::breaks off, embarrassed:: Sorry. I'm worried. <Dawn> They know about Bienca, too? ::he rubs his temples:: She's hard to hide. Don't tell me we're going to have to close our doors. <Angel> ::calmly:: No, I don't think we'll have to close our doors. I think... I think we're going to have to rub her out. <Dawn> ::dubiously:: Will that work? She must have reported. Someone else will be on our asses. <Angel> ::shakes his head:: She's not popular. She's young and ambitious. About half of the older officers know that we're less destructive than uncontrolled crime. ::he rests his fingers on his temples:: She's got a vendetta to settle. I think we could... pacify anyone else. <Dawn> What vendetta? <Jewel> ::bites her lip:: Against... Bastian? <Angel> ::as if changing tactics:: What do you know about her? <Dawn> I know you think she's your sister. Talk to me. <Angel> ::blinks:: How the *fuck*...? <Dawn> I told you. Maybe you weren't all the way awake yet. We've got an inside man again. How do you think we got you out? <Jewel> ::sliding her hand into Angel's good one and squeezing it:: You mistook her for Helana when you were delirious. <Angel> ::sighs, then shades his face with his hand:: My mother had an affair with one of the prison guards. He was supposed to get us out - at least that was what she used to tell me. I know... I think I was six or seven. She had a baby that was taken away. I guess I thought it died. She didn't. <Dawn> Vander. All right. What's the vendetta, then? <Angel> My mother was branded a thief, remember? That's what she was imprisoned for. And Vander's father was hung - for aiding my mother. I gather she's not had the life she thinks she deserves, being of dubious background. <Dawn> ::groans:: She's on a crusade to prove that she's not one of us. Fuck. ::he glares for no reason at all at Dusk, who's standing in the doorway:: Fanatics. <Jewel> ::eyes widening:: You mean... that was *her*? But I... ::looks angry:: <Angel> ::spreads his fingers just enough to look at Jewel:: You what? <Jewel> ::thinking:: Vander. Captain Vander... hells. Of course. Damn her for an ungrateful wretch. ::snorts:: Not that she could have known... <Angel> What *are* you going on about? * Dawn and Dusk are both watching Jewel with expressions of intense interest, as well. <Jewel> ::shakes her head, looking disgusted with herself:: When I was... um... digging into your past. Compiling your dossier. ::cheeks redden:: She was the one,then, the Captain's daughter who'd only managed to wrest a half-pension from the Guard, because her father was decommissioned in disgrace. I felt *sorry* for her, dammit. <Angel> ::snorts:: You don't have to. She feels sorry enough for herself without your help. <Jewel> ::shakes her head:: Apparently so. Even *after* I arranged for her to receive the other half of that pension. Hells, I could kick myself. <Dawn> You *what*? <Angel> ::blinks:: <Jewel> ::shakes her head:: It wasn't traceable. ::looking somewhat ashamed of herself, and glancing at Angel:: I... I told you about this a long time ago. ::sighs:: I wanted to... to do something for the family of the man who got Bastian released. Just... anonymously, but... ::bites her lip:: I felt a debt. * Dawn and Dusk exchange a long look. * Angel makes a gesture as if he's going to punch the wall and at the last moment remembers that - with a broken wrist - that isn't necessarily a good plan. <Jewel> So... she got a letter about some... I don't remember, something about a miscalculation, I think, and... ::trails off, staring at the floor, cheeks flaming:: It seems I've had my lesson. * Jewel looks very much like she'd prefer the floor to swallow her. <Dusk> {Does she want more, or is it a message that she can't be bought?} * Angel suddenly looks thoughtful. "I wonder..." <Dawn> Wonder out loud. The options are getting narrower, so any ideas you've got... <Angel> Find out what happened to those funds. 'The lady protests too much.' It wouldn't take much to convince people that her fanaticism is hiding something. <Dawn> I'll look into it. ::he glances at Jewel:: And make sure the source was well-hidden. *Nothing* is truly untraceable, but I'll do what I can. * Jewel looks up surprised. "The whole thing would've looked official enough, unless she did some digging. I had a friend who had a friend who had a cousin in the city bureaucracy. Only the *money* didn't come from the city. ::mutters:: Ungrateful bitch... <Angel> Given how strident she is, my lady, people wouldn't necessarily believe the "But I didn't *know*" excuse. <Dawn> For a surface look, yes. But if we start rumors, then someone's going to start digging, and I have to make sure the trail goes where we want it to go. <Dawn> ::to Angel:: Besides her, who knows enough to be dangerous? <Jewel> ::winces, and thinks harder:: Well... the cousin was in... ::thinks a moment longer:: Some other office... Land Use, I believe... and he'd routed it to another department. I think he was told that someone was getting a payment in for someone else a little late, and didn't want to be fined just because of a little paperwork screw-up, or somesuch.... I don't know exactly what story he got. <Angel> ::fingers his jaw:: She's got two seconds, and that overly muscular brown fellow that Bie was mooning over. I'd prefer to leave him out of it. I think he's - remember that healer girl friend of Lisl's? <Jewel> Healer... surely not the priestess-- oh, San's old girlfriend? Tarri? <Dawn> ::grins:: Pretty little piece of tail. Yeah, I remember. <Jewel> I know her. ::smiles a little:: She's dating a *Dragon* now? ::sounds a little incredulous:: <Angel> ::nods:: She's taken up with him - I had that from Master Talarin's lady. Too many friends who know too much about us are friends with him. I wouldn't want to get rid of this problem just to set Lisl against us. Or Talarin's lady's goddess, either. <Jewel> ::eyes wide:: No. Not after... ::glances at Angel's hip, where his rebirthmark is hidden:: <Dawn> ::shrugs:: We owe her, anyhow. She did us a favor, few years back, all unwitting, but it was a big one. <Dawn> But if he's dangerous - how do we control him? And what do we do about the seconds? <Angel> But I think if we tarnish her name, he won't be a problem. All upright and proper, that one. ::rolls his eyes:: But not too bright, either. <Dawn> Yeah, Heroboys are like that. ::thinks:: We start pushing rumors on her, she'll know it's us. She'll come after us even harder, with whoever will still stick to her. <Jewel> ::grins:: No, I couldn't see Tarri taking up with a bad boy. ::slides an arm possessively around Angel's shoulders and gives him a chaste kiss on the forehead:: <Angel> So then, we kill her. Once she's dead, we can make it look any way we like. Including making it look as though this push of hers was a bid for the guild "throne" so to speak. <Dawn> ::grins:: I want to be as evil as you when I grow up. ::looks at Dusk:: Sharpened your knives lately? <Dusk> {Always. Think you can still light a match?} <Jewel> ::cocks her head:: You said she wasn't well-liked... I wonder how interested some of her rivals would be in information on her... improprieties? <Angel> ::shakes his head:: She isn't. She's got... ideas. Educating the Dragons, for one. Bad plan on many levels, including the fact that *I* don't want any more thinking lizards if I can help it. Testing. Competent, thinking lizards. What's the world coming to? <Jewel> ::mutters under her breath:: Maybe she knows Mistress Glossaria... <Jewel> ::looks at Dusk, puzzled:: "Light a match"? <Dawn> Could work out in our favor, boss. Smart dragons might realize how stupid it is to crawl down into the sewers after rats. ::grins:: <Jewel> ::rolls her eyes at Dawn:: Smart dragons could build a better rat-trap, too. <Dusk> {Tactics. And I'm giving him shit. Don't worry about it.} <Angel> ::fingering one of his multiple bruises:: Smart dragons would go for some of those truth-drugs instead of torture. Easier on the skin, I admit, but... ::shakes his head slowly:: Bad enough I spit what I did. <Dawn> ::acerbically:: I'm not stupid. <Jewel> ::grins sidelong at Dawn:: No, but you *were* a half-measure behind last night. <Dawn> ::blinks at Jewel, suddenly confused:: Measure of what? <Jewel> ::grin sliding over to take in Dusk, too:: "I knew a lass, what liked to... (ahem)." <Dawn> You were listening? What's that got to do with measuring? <Jewel> You were *shouting.* Both of you, the same song. Two beats apart-- a half-measure. <Dawn> It's what you *told* me to do. Music is measured? ::he looks at Dusk, then shrugs:: <Jewel> ::shakes her head with a smile:: Never mind. ::massages the back of Angel's neck:: *Really* smart Dragons hire mindbenders without any scruples, and then they don't *need* drugs. That's what bothers me the most. It.. ::shakes her head:: Mistress Quel'shu wouldn't like it at all. <Angel> ::raises one eyebrow, then shakes his head:: I think I don't want to know. ::suddenly serious:: Be that as it may - enlightened self-interest aside. Thank you. For getting me out. <Jewel> ::nods agreement with Angel:: Thank you both. I owe you. ::looks wry:: Again. <Dawn> ::meets Angel's eyes for half a heartbeat, then nods:: Weren't going to leave you to rot. <Angel> ::almost quietly enough not to be heard:: I think it was living that scared me worse. * Dusk nods to Angel, then grins at Jewel. {Any time you care to pay...} He winks. <Jewel> ::mouth moves into a smile, although her eyes are still somber:: Whenever you care to name it, Dusk. <Angel> ::his face clears of stress, then tightens in mock-anger:: Would you wait to attempt to seduce my wife until I'm *out* of the room. <Dusk> ::looks at Angel innocently:: {Why bother? You're falling apart. Time she traded up anyway, right?} ::He backs hastily out of Angel's reach, grinning:: <Dawn> ::glances at Jewel, then looks at Angel seriously:: We hadn't found a way to get you out soon, we'd have put you under for real. * Jewel 's hands still for a moment at Dawn's words, and then continue the massage. <Angel> ::covers Jewel's hand with his own:: It would have been for the best. You wouldn't want to see the inside of a prison, my lady. And I wouldn't want you there. * Dawn rolls his eyes. "Come on, loverboy. I've been up for two days straight, Bienca's probably chewing through the furniture with impatience, and we've got planning to do, yet." <Jewel> ::voice tight:: Whose best? Not mine. It was bad enough that I couldn't... ::stops and takes a deep breath:: No matter now. You're back, and you're staying with me, dammit. ::sticks her tongue out at Dusk:: At least, if *I* get any say in the matter. * Dusk winks at Jewel again, then follows Dawn to the door. <Angel> ::flickers his fingers at the boys:: {Go on.} <Dawn> Tomorrow. <Jewel> And now that I have you all to myself, my lord... we're giving you a *bath.* |
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