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Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 5:34 pm Post subject: Scene 3.4 - The Strange Reunion

As April makes her way back into another pit, Ian and Flora notice the intruder. Flora has stopped about fifty feet from where the passage narrows upward and where the long iron chain lays. The glow down there is faint, but Ian and Flora can see the outlines of boulders and rock columns behind which they could hide if they chose to do so.
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TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 494

If the person coming down is making any attempt at stealth then they are very, very bad at it. Light bobs and slants from above, and the chain clinks and rattles as it is used on the descent.

The light draws closer, step by step.

Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 521 Location: South Carolina

Probably a bird man, but it could be some other kind of horrifying creature. Ian draws Hollowshade, and the already gathering gloom deepens around Ian and Flora, the shadows become darker and Ian reaches over and guides Flora behind him, just in case it's something really dangerous.

TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 494

The chain gives one final loud clank, as someone reaches the end and drops it. A lantern bobs into sight, casting bright rays of light down the hallf, and pressing slightly upon Hollowshade's unnatural darkness. Holding it, and lit brightly by it, is a fit young girl. She wears light clothing, with rips along the bottom of her shirt, and oddly tailored gloves and boots. Her right arm is stained from shoulder to wrist with blood. The shoulder itself is crudely but effectively bandaged, as is the hand in which she holds the lantern. Her short black hair is plastered in random swatches to her head by sweat and some sort of fine powder the grey of quarries and old keeps. The rest of her exposed skin is covered with a patchwork of bruises and smaller scratches. Over this is a layering of dirt, smeared away in many places where sweat has clearly poured over her frame.

Her left boot appears to have been recently dunked in mud. She carries no obvious weapons, nor any other provisions.

"Hello!" she says cheerfully, staring out into the darkness, "I know someone's down here. Why don't we introduce each other before either of us goes jumping at shadows and does something you'll regret?"

Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 521 Location: South Carolina

Ian steps forward into the light.

"April?" Hollowshade hangs at his side, still in hand, but clearly forgotten. He walks forward slowly, cataloguing her injuries and determining although she looks pretty bad, she's in one piece.

"God bless the child..." He says to nobody in particular. A million questions come to mind, but first.

"Are you okay?" He walks up to her, simply stunned to see her here, looking like she is.

TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 494

"Hey, HEY, HEY!" April shouts, taking a step back. "Put the sword away!"

Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 521 Location: South Carolina

"Sword?" He chuckles and sheathes Hollowshade. The shadows thin a bit and Flora can be seen behind Ian.

Ian hugs April, holding her tightly.

"My God, what happened to you?" He kisses her brow.

TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 494

April disentangles herself hurriedly.

"I've hit half a dozen ambushes and snares just getting here, Ian," she says simply, "And it hasn't put me in a real trusting mood. Finding you here, now, doesn't start our little reunion off on a great footing."

"Who'zat?" she finishes, with a nod of the head toward the curvy woman standing behind her brother.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 5:23 am Post subject:

Flora steps to Ian's side, holding his arm. "I am Florimel. I don't believe we've met, April. I suppose it is a rather strange coincidence that we find you here."
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TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 494

"Oh yeah," April says with dawning recognition. "I've seen pictures." She cocks her head, and stares a bit at how Flora is hanging on Ian's arm. "Somehow I thought you'd be taller," she admits.

"Well, it's nice to meet you and all, but yeah ... bit much in the way of coincidence." She shifts her lantern slightly and continues. "I'm here as a favor to the King ... he's stretched a bit thin, so other folks take these delightful little jaunts for him."

"And you two," she says easily, "are here to figure out whether you can help the family more by laying personal claim and managing the broken pattern yourself or by tossing it into the communal pot for better or worse." She turns to direct her questions at Ian. "So what's it gonna be? You callin' dibs?"

Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 521 Location: South Carolina

"Eric. I was wondering where your sudden poor manners came from."

Anger flashes in his eyes, and he recalls the last time he saw her. "You aren't still mad from New Orleans are you?"

He holds his hands up. "Forget I asked. Before I answer anything, you need to answer me. Are you okay? And who or what did that to you?"

Despite his obvious anger, she can tell his concern for her is as real as it has always been.

TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 494

"I'll be fine," April says. "The person who chewed up my shoulder isn't an issue any more, and wouldn't be your issue even if he were."

"And?" April asks, raising her eyebrows and fixing Ian with an expectant look.

Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 521 Location: South Carolina

"The hell it wouldn't. Let me see it." He glances at Flora then back to April as he starts looking at the bandage, if she lets him. "I personally lay no claim to this 'broken pattern', as you call it. Now please let me see your shoulder."

TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 494

"No," April enunciates very clearly. "I. Will. Be. Fine."

She shakes her head. "My problem right now is your hemming and hawing. Honestly, I'd like to go set up a guard position, sit down, and get some rest. Food would be nice too, if you have any. But I can't do that while you're fussing like a mother hen in a way that I can't help notice dodges the very legitimate questions I'm asking you."

"It's obvious that you won't be claiming this pattern personally. The question is whether you claim it on Florimel's behalf ... and before you put her on the spot by so much as throwing a questioning look, consider this: She brought you here to make the decision yourself."

April shrugs slightly, with only her left shoulder, and glances at Florimel. "No offense intended, Aunt Florimel," she says.

"If she makes the decision, yes or no, then she has to live with it and take the heat for it. If you make the decision then she can support it for as long as it's convenient, and everyone in the family will respect that she's trying to help out the reckless younger generation, and then nobody will blame her if she later needs to flip-flop. It's just like European powers and their proxy wars, back in the day."

"That's why I'm here," April says wearily, "And that's why you're here. Like it or not, we're calling the shots now, for as long as they let us. What we can get out of that will depend upon us."

"So what's your decision?"

Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 521 Location: South Carolina

"My priority is your health. I'll deal with Eric later for getting you injured like this. Either you let me see that shoulder, which you can't even move, or I'll Trump Eric myself and send you back to Amber. You might be delirious. I'm sure even Eric cares about Archduke Ferdinand enough to not sacrifice him right away."

He crosses his arms and taps his foot. "Have I ever been anything but honest with you?"