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* Tarri paces restlessly from room to room of the apartment she shares with Orlann. Several times, she tries to take up a task - sewing, cleaning, even cooking - but nothing holds her attention long. Every time she passes a window, she peers out hopefully. But although dawn paints the city streets beautifully, they are still far too empty for her. * Orlann climbs the stairs wearily. Despite a rough washing earlier, his face and hair are still streaked with ash. The shirt he's wearing is open down the front - it is obviously several times too small - and reveal white bandages snug around his upper torso. Another set cover his right arm, wrist to elbow. His pants are ash stained and torn out at the knee. * Tarri - who has jumped up at every creak of the wind since midnight - flies to the door at the sound of feet on the stairs. She flings it open, not caring that the neighbors might catch a glimpse of her in her nightgown. "Orlann! Thank the Mother, I was so worr-" She breaks off as his injuries become apparent. "What happened?" * Orlann looks up at her from the middle of the stairs, painted in morning sunlight. Despite everything, he smiles at her. "Ain't you fine, darling. I'm right glad t'see you, too." He finishes climbing the stairs and attempts to shoo her into the flat. * Tarri allows herself to be shooed, but the instant the door is closed, she flings her arms around him, only half-heeding his bandages. <Orlann> ::puts his arms around her, running his uninjured - and mostly clean - hand through her hair:: <Tarri> Oh, 'Lann, I was so *worried*... ::She chokes back a sob, then draws back just enough to look at the bandage on his chest with faint suspicion.:: What happened to you? <Orlann> ::waves one hand:: Ain't s'bad as it looks, darling. Shrapnel, mostly... ::looks grim:: A warehouse exploded. <Tarri> *Exploded*? ::her eyes widen:: A whole *warehouse*? <Orlann> ::nods:: I reckon that they picked that one, specific... merchant what owns it stocks mostly spice and liquor. Lucky us, he didn't have but a small shipment in. We coulda lost th' whole block. <Tarri> ::bites her lip:: Was anyone else hurt? Was that the lead you told me about? <Orlann> ::nods again:: Mostly minor injuries, darling. At least two, and maybe three, deaths. I ain't see anyone get out, but it'll be a bit, I reckon, before someone c'n poke through the rubble. <Tarri> Blessed Mother... Who? * Orlann disentangles himself from her and sits, picking absently at his boot-laces. "Vander. And what I reckon was one of the high-ups in the group of thieves she's been huntin' after." <Tarri> ::stares at him, then shakes her head:: You'd better start over, at the beginning, love. <Orlann> ::grins at her briefly:: F'r the fifth time, this evenin'. But last, I reckon. <Tarri> ::looks briefly abashed, but doesn't retract her request. She sits beside him on the couch and helps him with his boots.:: <Orlann> Y'know that Derrek's been helpin' me, keepin' an eye on Vander, while she's been suspended... Him an' me and Shep's been sorta... keepin' unofficial tabs on her. <Tarri> Shep, too? ::shakes her head, amusement showing through her concern:: <Orlann> Anyways, she got herself a bit of a letter, this mor -::he looks out the window:: Er, yesterday mornin'. An' after she read it an' all, Vander was real excited. Mad and glad an... Derrek reckoned it was important. <Tarri> ::nods, not interrupting:: <Orlann> I nivver saw it, but Derrek's handed it over... evidence, y'know. We didn' know yet, what, tho. So it set up this meetin' between her an' some fella. Derrek had t'go on duty yesterday when this meetin' was scheduled, so I thought I'd best check it out. <Orlann> I went out t'the address an' waited t'see what her and this "M" were up to... ::looks troubled:: <Tarri> You don't... you don't think she was going to deal with them, do you? <Orlann> I don't rightly know, darling... I didn't rightly hear everythin' that they said. Didn't even see him t'all, but from th' back. Cloaked, so I reckon that don't do us no good. <Tarri> I guess not... Sorry, go on. <Orlann> ::shrugs:: Ain't much more t'tell... She accused him of settin' up this investigatin', said that Miss Andrial wouldna come forward on her own. ::his face darkens slightly:: <Tarri> ::sniffs indignantly:: Of course she would! She's a brave girl, and with her own kin in danger-! <Orlann> ::takes a deep breath:: I didn't catch much more... was tryin' to find a better spot t'listen. Didn't rightly know how long they was gonna be talkin'. Anyway, I reckon he pissed her off, or she him, 'cause they came t'blows. Wasn't doin' no good t'listen, then, so I went t'head up th' stairs an' see if I could do anythin'. Before I got that far, the damn floor fell in an' caught fire. <Tarri> ::gasps, paling despite the fact that he obviously survived:: <Orlann> ::runs one hand wearily over his face:: I reckon they trapped it, but I don't suppose they meant it t' catch themselves. I reckon this "M", he ambushed her, had him some backup. That one, I know, died. Saw him when th' wall fell out. No cloak. Heard this "M", too... screamin his friend's name. ::sighs:: <Tarri> ::chews on her lip, torn between sympathy and judgment:: <Orlann> ::shakes his head:: There weren't nothin' I could do, fer either of 'em. An' you know, I woulda... I ain't nivver heard... darlin' he sounded like I might, were you dead at the bottom o' some pit of spikes and fire. * Tarri lets sympathy win out, and curls against Orlann's side, resting her head on his shoulder with a sigh. "I guess even the bad guys have loved ones." <Orlann> ::nods:: I reckon they do, at that. Not sure, zactly what'll happen next... Vander's dead an' I didn't see "M" leave, but I reckon I coulda missed it. <Tarri> If she's... gone, what are the Purple Dragons going to do about the investigation? Just drop it? What about Andrial, and the others? <Orlann> ::shakes his head:: No, it ain't quite over... she had herself at least three what knew what she was up to, an' they need to be right sure that there ain't no one else. <Orlann> An' Andrial, I reckon, c'n go back t'her life. She ain't gonna be held accountable on that man's death. <Tarri> Well, that's good, anyway. I'm sure she's tired of living in an inn and being afraid. ::sighs:: <Tarri> There'll be some shifting around in your department, too, I guess. At least, to fill the Captain's... vacancy. ::looks up at him with a faint smile:: You could get another promotion. <Orlann> ::nods:: I reckon she is... I oughtta go out an' see her.. ::stops and blinks at Tarri:: Oh, no, I *ain't*... <Tarri> ::grins at his expression:: Why not? <Orlann> ::shrugs:: But, I am off suspension, at least... Although I got a couple days off, on account o' gettin' sprayed with woodbits. <Tarri> Oh, good. I have today off, too. ::she snuggles against him:: It's been a while since we had a day off together. * Orlann kisses her forehead. "After I get me some sleep, darling... and you, 'cause I reckon you ain't been t'bed yet." <Tarri> Mm. ::she yawns:: Well, I did *go* to bed. I just couldn't sleep. ::she stands, lacing her fingers with his:: Maybe we'll stay in bed the whole day. ::she grins, impishly, and tugs him toward the bedroom:: |
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