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* Dawn and Dusk are in their workshop. Dawn is sprawled on the couch, reading. Dusk is practicing throwing knives at a wooden target, with methodical and rhythmic "thunk"s. * Jewel raps out her code on the door. She has since changed from her rose gown into something more appropriately nondescript for this part of town. <Dawn> Come! ::He does not look up from his book:: * Jewel enters and drops a grease-spotted packet smelling of fried fish on the table. "I'm back." She glances around. "...Angel? Didn't he come here today?" <Dawn> Aye, he did. He was starting to feel sorry for himself, though, so I gave him something else to think about. <Jewel> ::brow wrinkling a little:: He was alright to go out? ::she bites her lip, looking worried:: <Dawn> ::looks up, finally:: It's a pretty easy job. Just an uppity customer who tried to sell out some of our people. He should be back in a couple of days. <Jewel> ::small voice:: Oh. ::she flops into a chair:: I... well, I'd hoped to have a chance to talk with him, before... well... can't be helped I suppose. ::nibbles delicately on the end of a lock of hair:: * Dawn marks his place and straightens to look at her better. "Yes? Anything I should know about?" <Jewel> ::reluctantly pulls the hair free and winds it around her finger instead:: Most likely. Although-- ::hesitates:: Well, I doubt you're going to like any of it, anyway. * Dusk throws his last knife into the target and sits beside Dawn instead of retrieving them. <Dawn> ::shrugs:: Probably not any more than I like what *he* told me, but at least it gave me some ideas. You go first. <Jewel> ::frowns thoughtfully, marshalling her thoughts:: First things first... my friend didn't have too many particulars to share with me, but there *is* most definitely a new guild in town. They're calling themselves Infinity Incorporated, and it was founded by a human woman in her thirties from "up north somewhere"-- that's all she could tell me, really, other than that she's absolutely brilliant. Her name's Vella. <Dawn> Interesting. Though as long as they're not interfering with us directly... ::shrugs:: Keep going. <Jewel> My friend says she came to the school... oh, probably just after I left, and breezed through all the classes. Blew the curve out of the water... ::shakes her head:: She's a lot more experienced that any of the rest of us were, going in. Soon as she graduated, she formed this guild, taking a bunch of the most promising older students with her. <Dawn> Sounds pretty reasonable. Lady Quick and Waterdeep didn't kick, I won't worry about it too much. <Jewel> She's been recruiting right out of the School, and from how Prin sounded, everyone's hot to join. She's organizing the psionics, writing a code of ethics... hiring out to pretty much anyone who wants their services. Including the Dragons. <Jewel> ::frowning:: She *hopes*, Prin says, to have *all* working psionics eventually registered with the Guild. <Dawn> ::shrugs again:: Tell me how it affects us. <Jewel> ::slowly, thinking:: Well... it means Tam isn't just part of a little group of entrepreneurs striking out on their own. She's... basically, she's building connections, a reputation... she's working on making a place for psionics in the city. ::sounds torn between admiration and worry:: <Dawn> That's good news for us, in the long run. If they actually build a solid foothold, get to be trusted, we could think about inserting or recruiting someone. It'd be a good situation. Other than that... I don't see that it really touches the situation. The bitch hired her mindbenders. Doesn't matter to me whether she hired them on a personal contract or through a guild. Move on. <Jewel> What that means for us, I think, is that it's going to be increasingly likely for Guildmembers to encounter them. As security, as truthsayers... ::pulls on her lip:: ...depending on what she has in mind, it might be harder for psionics to operate *outside* of the guild.... <Jewel> ::cocks her head:: As to inserting one... I thought about it, for about half a minute. Then Prin told me that, besides the application, there's a required mindscan to get in. <Dawn> ::nods:: There is that. I'll keep it in mind. Let's stick to the *current* situation for now. <Jewel> ::shakes her head:: I don't think infiltration's going to be an option. On the other hand... part of the code of ethics she's building has to do with how customers can and can't treat the psionics they hire. <Dawn> ::raises his eyebrows:: Oh, really? And how's that bear with the way Vander was treating *her* hired 'bender? <Jewel> Well, since you mention it... ::suddenly develops a great interest in inspecting the grain of the floor:: "Bender*s*." Vander has hired at least two that I know of. And one of them, a girl-- she's, oh, perhaps three or four years younger than me-- ::briefly touches her breastbone:: Vander's put the pinch on her, to do a lot more than she wants to. She's got her helping to torture prisoners. And she doesn't like it. <Dawn> Aye. That's the one Angel told me about. She actually *helped* him, once, when they were, ah, unexpectedly alone together. <Jewel> ::blinks:: Angel... knew she was in there? <Dawn> He said she took away his pain, for a little bit. <Dawn> He forbade me to hurt her. He was pretty sure she was being coerced, somehow. <Jewel> ::eyes widening:: That's... very... interesting. ::nods slowly:: Then... perhaps she can be trusted. I... I didn't know if she was... trying to play on my sympathies, or something. ::looks ashamed:: <Dawn> ::grins:: We'll make a wolf of you, yet. ::more seriously:: I want to pay her a visit, see what she can do for us. It would be a sure thing, if she reported Vander's abuses, that simple rumors couldn't hope to touch. Unless you can give me a solid reason why I shouldn't. I'll want you along to keep her out of my head. <Jewel> ::nods:: She is being coerced. And she's afraid to report her, because there's no telling what Vander would do to her friend. There's a boy-- from her home village, I think, where they stoned her out of town... ::looks angry:: Vander's got him locked up somewhere, on the girl's good behavior. If we could get *him* out, I think she'd be *most* willing to talk to us. <Dawn> That easy? We've got an inside man, again, after all. We can get him out. Much easier than Angel, too, because they won't be watching him nearly so close. <Jewel> ::a wrinkle forming between her brows:: She left a note for me, of sorts, in Ba-- in Angel's head. She's been in there. She... ::her jaw tightens, and clamps shut with a grinding of teeth on whatever else she was going to say:: * Dusk nudges Dawn, frowning slightly. {Don't get reckless.} <Jewel> ::giving Dawn a pained look:: I... if she's being straight with me, I don't particularly want to see her hurt, either, but... I don't know what she might know. * Dawn waves off Dusk's concern, then looks at Jewel. "I'd assumed she was in there, somewhat. You don't have to be visible to do your work. If we throw the dice just right, she could be our inside to their guild." <Dusk> ::shakes his head, grinning:: {Ambition, indeed.} <Jewel> ::nods reluctantly, still looking worried:: She... she has no reason to love the law, that's for certain. She's been branded. <Dawn> Good. I'll send word to Jinali, and we'll arrange something for the boy. Tomorrow or the next night, we'll pay her a visit. <Dawn> What else should I know? <Jewel> Well... ::hesitates:: You sound like you're fine with the new guild, but... if you need to know more... ::agonizes another moment:: Well, I might have an in on a way to find out a lot more about them. Or, well... ::sighs:: Honestly, it could go either way. <Dawn> I always like information. What do you have? <Jewel> I... um... know the professor who's their contact with the School. Or, um, knew him, at least. ::hugs herself nervously:: Intimately. <Jewel> And... well, Prin indicated that he's... sort of may be on the outs with his current girlfriend. <Jewel> I... ::miserably:: He... well, he may be able to tell me a *lot* about the guild, really, but... he's a *lot* better than me, too. All these guild people... after all, most of them are my old school chums, and I was... ::colors:: pretty popular, before. <Dawn> Heh. Stay the fuck away from him. I'll fight with Angel to let you face reasonable risks for the good of the Guild, but I'm not stupid enough to let you even so much as shake your ass at him for anything short of mortal danger. If I need his information, I'll set up one of the whores to befriend him. <Jewel> ::closes her eyes and exhales slowly, the nervousness visibly leaving her body:: Th-thank you. <Dawn> ::snorts:: I may be stupid, but I'm not suicidal. <Jewel> ::small voice:: Angel... well, Angel *really, really* doesn't like him. He's... er... he's the last boy I dated. Before Angel, I mean. <Dawn> Then *definitely* stay away from him. When you get a minute, write up an intel sheet on him for me, and I'll take- ::He breaks off at a loud thump and a crash from upstairs. His eyes narrow as he looks at the ceiling:: I am going to skin them both, I fucking swear... ::he gets up and heads for the stairs:: I'll be back after I've knocked their heads good and proper. ::grumbling:: Don't wait up or anything. <Jewel> ::looks alarmed at the crash:: Who--? <Jewel> ::bites her lip:: Wait. Bad question. Forget I asked. <Dusk> ::grins:: {Shiver and Ear. Dawn thought if he kept them here, they might manage to stay out of trouble for a little while. I *told* him it was a stupid idea.} <Jewel> ::returns Dusk's grin with a sheepish smile:: Well... at least it will keep them out of trouble out *there.* * Jewel shifts in her chair a couple of times, and then gets up and starts to pace. <Dusk> {We can only hope. Frankly, I'm amazed Ear was still there when Dawn went to get him.} ::He watches Jewel pace for a moment:: {We should have another practice soon. You have too much extra energy.} <Jewel> ::wryly:: I've been picking up his bad habits, I'm afraid. I used to be such a... ::grins a little:: Well, I'll be honest. Such a *lazy* person. Of course... I have more to worry about now, too. I think I'm beginning to understand why he looks forward to getting half-killed by Snowman so much. <Dusk> {We should all have a friend as loyal as Snowman who's willing to beat the unimportant shit out of us on a regular basis.} ::He smiles, somewhat sadly:: <Jewel> ::cocks her head at Dusk curiously, and pauses to sign towards him:: {Does Dawn spar with you?} <Dusk> {Yes. Though I don't know who will take over for me when I'm gone.} <Jewel> ::face falling:: {So... you're decided, then? You're...} ::puts a hand to her mouth, looking surprised, herself, as tears sting her eyes:: <Jewel> ::half-turns away:: I'm sorry, I'm sorry... ::wipes her eyes on her sleeve hurriedly and takes a deep breath:: {Do you really *have* to go?} <Dusk> ::nods once, his own face set:: {I... have no choice.} ::He looks at her solemnly:: {I need you to lie to him for me. To tell him I'm dead, when it happens, that you can't find me. If he asks.} <Jewel> {I...} ::looks agonized:: {I'm sorry, I shouldn't ask, I *know* I shouldn't ask, it's not really my business and I apologize... but... will you tell me why? I can't-- I-- You're *both* my friends, Dusk. He's... not going to take this well.} <Dusk> ::sighs:: {For what I'm asking... You're probably the only one in the Guild who has even a hope of grasping it. I'll try.} * Dusk stares into the distance. {There are... two reasons. I don't know if either of them, alone, would be enough, but...} He draws a breath and looks at her. {First. Do you remember... the snake-priest?} <Jewel> ::darkly:: {Your crazy relative? Not likely to forget.} ::runs her thumb over the faint scar on her hand where his flying snake pumped its poison into her:: <Dusk> {He was... my cousin. The oldest child of my mother's brother. Our grandfather is a... high priest of the couatl-god. Atlatl was- had been driven mad. But the rest of them are still there.} ::He closes his eyes:: {My parents died when I was only a boy. If I'd known then that I had family, anywhere in the world, I don't know if I would have stayed with the Guild.} <Dusk> {The collar he left behind... It belongs to the god. It has made me certain promises, if I will take it back... None of which mean half to much to me as the possibility of finding my kin.} <Jewel> ::eyes widening, opening her mouth and remembering just in time to sign instead:: {You have family? He told you about them? And... you never *knew*? Oh, Dusk...! But wait...} ::frowns a bit:: {"*It* made"?} <Dusk> ::nods:: {Atlatl told me of his - our - family. He thought he was telling me why I was unworthy, but...} ::shrugs:: {I knew my mother was foreign, but I had no idea where she was from. I was too young to understand, when she died. If Whistle knew, he never told me.} <Jewel> ::nods:: {I read her bracelet, when we were trying to find you.} ::touches a hand to her throat:: <Dusk> {And yes, *it* made promises. It is... a very powerful artifact. I believe its frequent use is what drove Atlatl to his madness.} <Jewel> {You're not--} ::her eyes go to his throat:: {You still have it?} <Dusk> ::nods:: {I'm not using it, and I won't wear it, but yes, I have it.} <Jewel> {You'd think it would be better, having worked with them for a semester, but... things like that still make me nervous.} <Dusk> ::glances toward the stairs:: {Dawn would go with me, if I asked him. But it would not be... The Guild is his life, and the whole of his ambition. If I tore him from that, it would destroy him.} <Jewel> ::looks wry:: {I know a thing or two about that, yes. And... there's a place for him, here. Would there be, where you want to go?} ::hesitates:: {Do you... know if there's one for *you*?} <Dusk> ::shakes his head:: {I have reason to believe a place would be made for me, yes. But I don't think there would be one for him.} ::he closes his eyes:: {And this is his home. ...Which is the second reason I must go.} <Jewel> ::her eyes dark:: {Because it isn't yours, no matter how hard you try to make it fit?} <Dusk> ::meets her eyes:: {I don't know if I can explain this... Our relationship is... I've never encountered another like it. I don't have a word for it.} <Jewel> ::cocks her head thoughtfully:: {To me, from the outside, it looks like... well, it's almost like you're fate-linked.} <Dusk> {Dawn is... the breath in my lungs. I own him, and I belong to him. All that is his, is mine - and there is nothing I would not do for him, to make him happy. Except...} <Jewel> ::her expression unhappy:: {Except stay, when you think it's hurting him too.} * Dusk is not looking at Jewel. {There are those I have met for whom jealousy is... not an issue. Or it is something which can be overcome. I am not one of those. And I can not...} His face darkens, and his off-hand closes into a fist. {I *will* not be replaced.} * Jewel blenches, but says nothing. * Jewel smiles oddly. {You know... you have a lot more in common with Angel than I gave you credit for.} <Dusk> {But she loves him. She is careful not to say so, but I am not blind. And he knows that I will not stand for-} ::His head bows, and his hair falls down to hide his face:: {But it is what he needs, isn't it? I am standing between him and his happiness. And yet, if I must see it, I would not be able to-} ::Both hands clench tightly, and then relax. He looks up again, giving her a faint, ironic smile:: {If I am gone, I do not have to see it. If he thinks I am dead, he would not have to fear for her life.} <Jewel> ::bites her lip, aware that she's treading on dangerous ground here:: {Well... would he, though? He's never... ::bites her lip:: You think he *could* love her back?} <Dusk> {I don't know. I know he can love, but I don't... I can't think about it too much. I do know that he won't allow himself to try, if I am here.} <Jewel> ::nods shortly, accepting his answer:: {I'm very sorry, Dusk. I don't want you to leave. *None* of us do.} ::she pauses, and grins a little:: {Well... except maybe Blue Boy.} <Dusk> ::grins and snorts:: {Blue Boy can kiss my ass.} <Jewel> {HA! I would *pay* to see that!} <Dusk> ::tweaks her nose and winks:: {Now, now... What would Angel think, if he knew you were hiring such perverse entertainment?} <Jewel> ::snorts:: {Hells, didn't you know Lord Hooke's reputation? *He'd* pay for it, too!} <Dusk> ::feigns horror:: {I do NOT want to know any more!} <Jewel> ::wicked look:: {Why do you think Lady Hooke is so hesitant to re-enter Society? Sweet gods of light, you should *hear* some of the offers I get these days from people eager to comfort the lonely widow...} ::her cheeks turn crimson despite herself:: <Dusk> ::laughs soundlessly:: {I won't pass that on to Dawn. He'd find a way to use it...} ::he winks, and glances toward the stairs, where Dawn can be heard, "...and get some fucking SLEEP, dammit!" <Jewel> ::looks horrified, herself:: {He wouldn't...!} |
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