Riverside

[Ironsmith]

[Wild Mike's Topless Bar And Grill]

The club in question seems to have changed significantly since the last time Jaahlyn was here. For one, the front door is guarded by a large, swarthy man with a number of prominent forehead ridges, who thankfully lets Jaahlyn through after a quick check of her ID. The stage against the far wall is currently roped off, and even at this distance, Jaahlyn will be able to see the discoloration of new boards installed where the explosive panties went off. The number of tables in the building has been cut by about half, and it looks like the staff has suffered a similar degree of cutbacks. What staff remains are significantly more closed-off than before; there's barely a smile to be had, and even the "well, you don't see a roof on the bar, do you?" joke is delivered with a completely straight face.

The room doesn't perk up much when Marianne walks in, taking the sudden appearance of the drummer with complete indifference. Which is probably good for what she has in mind.

"Hey, Jaahlyn!" The angel greets, plopping down in the seat next to her. "How're you doing? Things going okay in your life?"

[Shadowcaller]

[Wild Mike's Topless Bar And Grill]

Jaahlyn is dressed in her usual coat. Though it appears to have been cleaned recently at least. "Uhh... well, great actually. See, I kinda have a boyfriend now which is making meeting at this place somewhat awkward. Since it technically isn't even job related and all." She gestures to herself. "But don't feel bad about that, I just realized this when I entered the bar. Otherwise I would have suggested another meeting place so we might as well be here."

[Arkhosia]

[MERC Office]

"Okay, but who is she and what's her name? Since, uh, she did something to the terrorist that we just turned in to the police." Anika points her thumb at the door. "And I've been meaning to figure out what that was. Cause' it turned her eyes all black and stuff. Like how the demons that attacked the city corrupt people." A beat. "Erm, I'm not saying she's one of them but uh, people could mistake her for that."

[MERC Office]

"Her name is Jaahlyn Hesperos. She's one of our license holders." Now that he thinks about it, they really should have asked Jaahlyn more details about just what she did to that terrorist. Not that he's going to admit it it here... "She's a fey. I don't know what alteration she subjected the terrorist to, precisely. But it has nothing to do with the demonic corruption, if that's your concern." He glances over at Blanche. "Yes, that particular misunderstanding did rather make the situation worse."

[MERC Office]

"I can't imagine it was, fey and demons don't usually seem to interact like that or even regularly be very fond of each other from what I've seen. This whole event is going to be a mess, not just for you but for both of us I imagine." The catgirl sighs. "As if the lingering demon paranoia from the invasion wasn't bad enough."

After a moment, Blanche turns back towards Dipsnig with a scrutinizing look. "How much of an eye have you been keeping onto Jaahlyn? Don't get me wrong - I'm sure that she's trustworthy, but with the kind of uproar the concert is starting to generate, there could be a very real risk for her safety."

[Ironsmith]

[Wild Mike's Topless Bar And Grill]

"Ah, well, if it helps, it sort of is job-related, actually." Marianne gives Jaahlyn a little smile and pulls out a trio of familiar-looking tokens, setting them on the table in front of her. "I have an associate in Hell Bend who trolls the local pawn shops looking for anything that might be too valuable for their owners to go without. Last time we talked, she mentioned seeing these in there, not quite realizing exactly what they were. I thought I'd do you a favor and get them off the street before some creep snatched them up." She grimaces. "And let's be real; blank checks for any form of service and a street full of perverts and sadists are two things that should never be mixed together. I'm sort of surprised these were even there in the first place."

[Reinholdt]

[Xar'cha Residence]

Marianne has the very unfortunate issue of... basic closed doors she has to go through. And a frowning nymph who closes her eyes and sighs. She doesn't need true sight to sense that Marianne's still there. She's long trained her other senses in the event she has to fight blind, an inevitability when coming out from the Underdark and faced with the far too bright sun. "Most people go with a Goodbye, but in your case I would at least settle for a feather from one of your wings for the test we discussed? It will suffice and I won't keep you."

Marianne can leave without providing a feather, but she would have to awkwardly open the door and basically admit to ignoring Ilpholin's request in doing so.

[Into The Looking Glass]

That the black pawns refuse to clap is a curious thing. Nye did seem to want white and black set on each other for some reason, which is quite weird considering two-thirds of white side is under Nye's thumb to begin with. Well, if she's the sole black side clapper, then so be it. Ilpholin's not afraid to stand out and go against the grain, no matter how it hurts.

It's hard not to wince as Siana falls though. Her commitment to being handicapped is strangely commendable. The act is certainly convincing. Ilpholin does Siana the favor of looking away and focusing upon Limuria for the time being. Everything's most exciting during the third act, is it not?

[Xar'cha Residence - Angelic Aftermath]

Ilpholin remembers the reason but Anika's reason and Ilpholin's reason were rather different and Ilpholin was mostly just going along for Anika's sake. So she kind of shrugs at Anika. "I guess so, but I highly doubt Tellysandra donated a lie detector to us. I'm much more interested in the summoning tools that pixie used," Ilpholin says picking up the metal eye with six wings and examining it closer as she turns it over in her hand. There was a similarity to the demon summoning staff that made her rather uncomfortable. The story of Anika and Tina's friendship shall surely soothe any lingering worries she may have.

[Shadowcaller]

[Xar'cha Residence - Angelic Aftermath]

"Uh... we met at that stupid dump-site, right? Or in the wilderness while I was looking for a moon well? Or was I looking for a moon well near the dump site when we met?" Anika scratches her head. "Man, it was so long ago that I can't remember the details. You weren't an angel back then at least. I remember that much. That happened- wait, are you an angel again?"

[Into The Looking Glass]

White Pawn will hurry over to Siana and help her down the stage of course while Limuria gives her and one of the Ana's an apologetic look.

But the show has to go on so her attention is turned towards the General while Nye chooses to address Ana. "I'm not sure what you're talking about." She then gestures for Siana. "But why don't you come over here, Siana. Let me have a look at your injury."

Meanwhile, Limuria is addressing the General. "So could the final volunteer come up and join me on the stage, please?"

[Wild Mike's Topless Bar And Grill]

Jaahlyn immediately seems to recognize the tokens once they're displayed but it still appears to take her a moment to comprehend what they were for even once Marianne stops talking. "I..." She smiles.

But as soon as it appears it fades as realization hits her.
Job-related, huh? She's not returning them, she's using them.

Using her.

"Those shouldn't even have been there. Nothing was even given in exchange but mockery." The satyr frowns as her expression darkens. "And you want to use them in exchange for a job? Is that so?" It sounds like a challenge. "Since I can't deny it but I want to make sure you understand just what you're asking for here."

[MERC Office]

Anika looks to the catgirl as she talks and finds herself nodding. "Yeah... that's a good idea, Blanche! Since she did kill that other demon so she might know something useful to us too." She glances at Wenomir. "Uh... and I could also apologize!"

[Recaiden]

[Into The Looking Glass]

Skye visibly hesitates for a moment.
Then she stands and strolls quickly up on stage for the last trick of this part of the performance.
"Okay, I have a question. If Ana did have three tails, could you slice her into three Anas, or four?"
"Quite a neat trick either way."

[Ironsmith]

[Xar'cha Residence]

Oh, right. There is that little detail. Marianne had forgotten all about that, in among their talk of murdering her friends.

The angel reappears momentarily by Ilpholin's table, grinning sheepishly as she plucks a feather from her wing and sets it within arm's reach of the nymph. "Sorry." She winces, before disappearing again.

The door opening and closing hastily a few moments later is surely unrelated.


[Wild Mike's Topless Bar and Grill]

"...Well, yeah. That's the way these things work, right?" Marianne asks, looking over the tokens in her hand. "If you want them taken out of circulation, someone has to use them? I was thinking I'd just cash them in for something you'd do anyway so they're not hanging over your head and you're not really forced into doing anything you don't want to." She grimaces. "...I know, it's still very awkward, but... this is better than some stranger using them to make you do something awful. And if you really don't want to do what I have in mind, we can figure out something else. I mean, if the 'job' I give you is just something like 'pat your head and rub your tummy', that still counts, right? And then it's done and you don't have to worry about them anymore." She holds out her other hand to the satyr. "I think of you as a friend. I don't want to do anything that'll hurt you."


[Into the Looking Glass]

Siana doesn't even look up as Nye makes her offer. She's too fixated on what just happened, what Limuria just gave her, and what she subsequently lost. She just sits in her chair, morosely staring at her twisted leg, with all the energy and drive of an unused marionette.

Of course, if Nye insists, she'll slowly sit up at attention and hear her out. But she's not going to let anybody touch her again for a bit. Even as comparatively nice as Limuria seemed to be, doing as she asked just caused pain. She's not at all eager to learn what Nye might do.

[Gullara]

[Fight or Flight]

"Uh, well, Zaro's one thing, but Jayden's not that easy to go after." Eliseo shrugs. "Normally me and him don't have beef, but I guess I've associated myself with trouble." He gives her a cheeky grin. "You should try and cool it a bit, though. The last thing we need is you getting yourself suspended or something."

Who would be dumb enough to do something like that, right?

[Earl of Purple]

House of Duste, 4:45am

"Not... here, exactly, but I'm from Riverside." The elf's a burglar, and came here because it's not their local neighbourhood so their neighbours won't necessarily know they're a thief. "I know the local police, this isn't just some muggings or theft. This is serious; the guy's a murderer. I don't want him loitering and I don't know what the fuck Eastside's cops can do about it all the way over there." The elf shudders at remembering what they saw within. Far more dead people than they feel strictly comfortable with.

[Shadowcaller]

[Wild Mike's Topless Bar and Grill]

"...Well, yeah. That's the way these things work, right?" Marianne asks, looking over the tokens in her hand. "If you want them taken out of circulation, someone has to use them? I was thinking I'd just cash them in for something you'd do anyway so they're not hanging over your head and you're not really forced into doing anything you don't want to." She grimaces. "...I know, it's still very awkward, but... this is better than some stranger using them to make you do something awful. And if you really don't want to do what I have in mind, we can figure out something else. I mean, if the 'job' I give you is just something like 'pat your head and rub your tummy', that still counts, right? And then it's done and you don't have to worry about them anymore." She holds out her other hand to the satyr. "I think of you as a friend. I don't want to do anything that'll hurt you."

[Into the Looking Glass]

Siana doesn't even look up as Nye makes her offer. She's too fixated on what just happened, what Limuria just gave her, and what she subsequently lost. She just sits in her chair, morosely staring at her twisted leg, with all the energy and drive of an unused marionette.

Of course, if Nye insists, she'll slowly sit up at attention and hear her out. But she's not going to let anybody touch her again for a bit. Even as comparatively nice as Limuria seemed to be, doing as she asked just caused pain. She's not at all eager to learn what Nye might do.

[Wild Mike's Topless Bar and Grill]

Jaahlyn's expression turns neutral as Marianne explains but her first response is to shake her head dismissively. "No, that's not how they work. They're..." How to explain this with words? Best to just be practical about it. "I can just unmake them if they're returned to me. But you don't understand, I had never intended anyone to use those tokens. They were just a means to get into a stupid casino so I could talk to a equally stupid demon." She let's out a sigh as Marianne holds out her hands.

"But tell me, what is it you believe I will do anyway? Since that's the heart of the matter, isn't it?"

[Into the Looking Glass]

"She only had one head, didn't she? So I'm pretty sure I could have cut her into a million pieces if I had wanted to. Limuria claims. "Thanks though." She gives Skye a finger-gun gesture. "But let me ask you this in turn, you aren't afraid of knives are you? Since the next number is going to involve a lot of them." As she says this, a group of Limuria's are carrying in a wheel-of-fortune-like prop.

Glancing at the board she adds. "Also, spinning."

Meanwhile, back with Siana and Nye, the fey queen is giving her a curious look as she approaches. "Tell me, Siana, how did you get crippled? Were you born with it or was it inflicted upon you later in life?"

House of Duste, 4:45am

The scholar nods calmly. "Very well, in that case would you mind trying to contact them if you know your way around here? Since I don't so I figure the best way I can help is making sure that the murderer doesn't escape while you're getting the police." Ambrosia nods towards the manor. "So I'll keep an eye out in case anyone leaves."

[Earl of Purple]

House of Duste, 4:45am

"Sure, and I'll give them directions. Um, be careful, OK? The guy's really creepy and he pretended he was a victim so I'd lower my guard, it's how he nearly got me." Not much of a 'nearly' about it, except Ash was able to escape. Speaking of, they're going to make their escape real now, and run towards the nearest police station.

[Ironsmith]

[Wild Mike's]

"...Oh. That... simplifies things." Marianne closes her fingers around the tokens, her voice shaking slightly. She's not being entirely honest; that returning them to Jaahlyn without using up a favor was an option did not, in fact, simplify matters at all.

There's a brief lull in the conversation as one of the servers stops to put a complimentary platter of wings and sauces between them, before going on his way to take someone else's order.

"...I'm not really sure there's an easy way to say this." The angel begins again, scooping up one of the wings and gingerly dipping it in a sweet-smelling brown condiment that might be someone's idea of a barbeque sauce. "But I'm going to try. See, life's actually been pretty good to me lately. You might remember, when you first helped me get into Elysium, how anxious I was about the whole thing. I felt like there just had to be a catch in there, somewhere. That it was going to somehow be even worse than the Abyss. But as time went on, and I got to digging more and more, I came to realize... no, it's actually exactly what it looks like. The people there really are that nice. I've got an eternity to figure my life out and get it just the way I want. I can even leave, if for some reason I need to come back to the mortal plane for anything. And if anything happens to me, like some spiteful pseudofan throwing a panty bomb in my face, I just pop right back, no harm done. It doesn't even hurt anymore." She takes a little nibble off the wing and shrugs. "It's heaven. It's actually heaven. And I can't thank you enough for bringing me there."

"...But, um..." She shuffles nervously in her seat at this part. "...If I'm being honest, there is one thing about it that doesn't seem right. I can think of at least three people more deserving of paradise than I am." She lets that hang in the air, squeezing the tokens in her hand. "...And, I was thinking... if you could help me, without me even needing to ask, is there any way you could help them?"

[Into the Looking Glass]

"...I was born this way, yes." Siana answers after a moment's hesitation. She still doesn't like where this is going. Why would that distinction matter to Nye?

[Shadowcaller]

[Wild Mike's]

"...Oh. That... simplifies things." Marianne closes her fingers around the tokens, her voice shaking slightly. She's not being entirely honest; that returning them to Jaahlyn without using up a favor was an option did not, in fact, simplify matters at all.

There's a brief lull in the conversation as one of the servers stops to put a complimentary platter of wings and sauces between them, before going on his way to take someone else's order.

"...I'm not really sure there's an easy way to say this." The angel begins again, scooping up one of the wings and gingerly dipping it in a sweet-smelling brown condiment that might be someone's idea of a barbeque sauce. "But I'm going to try. See, life's actually been pretty good to me lately. You might remember, when you first helped me get into Elysium, how anxious I was about the whole thing. I felt like there just had to be a catch in there, somewhere. That it was going to somehow be even worse than the Abyss. But as time went on, and I got to digging more and more, I came to realize... no, it's actually exactly what it looks like. The people there really are that nice. I've got an eternity to figure my life out and get it just the way I want. I can even leave, if for some reason I need to come back to the mortal plane for anything. And if anything happens to me, like some spiteful pseudofan throwing a panty bomb in my face, I just pop right back, no harm done. It doesn't even hurt anymore." She takes a little nibble off the wing and shrugs. "It's heaven. It's actually heaven. And I can't thank you enough for bringing me there."

"...But, um..." She shuffles nervously in her seat at this part. "...If I'm being honest, there is one thing about it that doesn't seem right. I can think of at least three people more deserving of paradise than I am." She lets that hang in the air, squeezing the tokens in her hand. "...And, I was thinking... if you could help me, without me even needing to ask, is there any way you could help them?"

[Into the Looking Glass]

"...I was born this way, yes." Siana answers after a moment's hesitation. She still doesn't like where this is going. Why would that distinction matter to Nye?

House of Duste, 4:45am

"Sure, and I'll give them directions. Um, be careful, OK? The guy's really creepy and he pretended he was a victim so I'd lower my guard, it's how he nearly got me." Not much of a 'nearly' about it, except Ash was able to escape. Speaking of, they're going to make their escape real now, and run towards the nearest police station.

[Wild Mike's]

A better life after death.

It still sounded so wrong even as Marianne was describing it. She couldn't help but to wonder what happened to children? Babies? Fetuses? How were they being judged?

And if life were so much better or worse in the case of the abyss then why... why did life before that exist at all? Purely to be judged?
It wasn't like the lack of a system like this in her own world was necessarily better. Being given a chance to a better life was certainly better than everyone just ceasing to exist. But it just raised so many existential questions to her.

She couldn't focus on any of that right now though since-

What.

Jaahlyn black eyes seems to stare right into Marianne's soul as she finishes that last sentence. "I'm going to need you to very clear on what you're asking of me right now, Marianne." Marianne would recognize this tone. She heard it before in the court room.

[Into the Looking Glass]

"Fascinating. And no one has been able to, ah..." She pauses, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "-cure you?"

[House of Duste, 4:45am]

"Don't worry, I will just try to make sure he doesn't leave undetected." Which was technically not a lie.

Since once she was sure that the elf had ran off she started to head towards the manor. It would of course be easier to just leave this body, manifest, and then just eat that murderer if they dared to get in her way. But that carried with it its own risks so for now she would proceed like this.

She will cautiously push the door open and peer inside. It was important that she got what she wanted here before the police arrived as they would most likely be even more troublesome to deal with that the murderer.

[Murkus]

[Angelic Aftermath]

"That's right! Something like that, anyway," Fettina says, smiling. "I'm still an angel. Never stopped. But I'm a little more flexible now. Can sorta change back into a mostly normal person. Not that I ever was."

"What are you trying to summon?" Fettina asks Ilpholin, hand on one hip.

[Morty]

[MERC Office]

Wenomir nods to Anika's suggestion while Dipsnig just looks between Blanche and Anika slowly.

"Jaahlyn has reported to us since the incident. It doesn't appear that there were any threats made against her person. But if you wish, I can request that she speak with you. I can't order her, because she's only a license-holder."

[Recaiden]

[Into the Looking Glass]

"She only had one head, didn't she? So I'm pretty sure I could have cut her into a million pieces if I had wanted to. Limuria claims. "Thanks though." She gives Skye a finger-gun gesture. "But let me ask you this in turn, you aren't afraid of knives are you? Since the next number is going to involve a lot of them." As she says this, a group of Limuria's are carrying in a wheel-of-fortune-like prop.

Glancing at the board she adds. "Also, spinning."

A million Anas. Wouldn't that be a sight to see? Not, probably, a good sight. Certainly would cause some problems for the city.

Skye looks at Limuria, loosk down at her own hands, and then returns the finger-guns.
"I am well familiar with knives. Use as many as you like."
She can see where this is going. Put on the wheel of fortune, spun around, knives thrown all around her but never quite hitting - unless something goes wrong.
Oh, she's going to be so dizzy. But the show must go on, right?

[Ironsmith]

[Wild Mike's]

Marianne's eyes go wide at that. Jaahlyn's doing the spooky voice again. The one that gave a rather scathing testimony at her trial and probably would have gotten her mulched if she didn't go back and give a more positive review later on. It's chilling to hear that voice come out again, especially with the implication that Jaahlyn can't really control it.

"...What I'm asking is that you do for my bandmates what you did for me." Marianne explains. "When they die, redirect them to Elysium and help make sure the trial ends in their favor. It should be easier now, since they've got a friend who can testify for them."


[Into the Looking Glass]

Siana shakes her head. No, of course, nobody's managed it. Magic that heals injuries and cures diseases is relatively commonplace; she has some of that already coursing through her, just by existing. But she's not hurt. She's not sick. Her leg is just put together in a way that doesn't let it work under normal circumstances. And it's much harder to find magic that can alter that.

[Reinholdt]

[Into the Looking Glass]

Ilpholin quirks an eyebrow. The General was really going to allow this? The nymph thought she had more sense than to allow herself to be bound, disoriented, and 'attacked'. This screams assassination attempt. If one of the knives suddenly 'miss', landing in the General's throat and all these fey under Fusago's control just happened to bail from the scene leaving Ilpholin and the King in Rags behind to take the blame, well that'd be awfully convenient, wouldn't it? Hmph. Just let them try to frame the Phyrexian. Until then she's start imagining who the new government of Southside's going to be. No candidates really stand out. Maybe the General already has a protégé lined up for the job?

[Angelic Aftermath]

"If you're an angel now, does that mean you died?" Ilpholin asks Tina. Seems like the usual way people become angels after all.

"At the moment? Nothing. I've never tried summoning before in my life," Ilpholin says with a shrug, having had no concrete summoning plans. "Seeing that pixie summon you certainly has me thinking though. So many people keep summoning demons. It seems only fair to summon some angels to combat these intrusive scourges and their warlock pets, doesn't it?" Bring in some forces of good to balance out all the demonic filth infesting these lands. Maybe even take on Sargon.

[Meowmai]

[Fight or Flight]

"Uh, well, Zaro's one thing, but Jayden's not that easy to go after." Eliseo shrugs. "Normally me and him don't have beef, but I guess I've associated myself with trouble." He gives her a cheeky grin. "You should try and cool it a bit, though. The last thing we need is you getting yourself suspended or something."

Who would be dumb enough to do something like that, right?

[Fight or Flight]

"Not easy for most, maybe. I can take him though." She says. Her black eye probably says otherwise, but she wasn't gonna let that stop her. Atsede mock-scowled at him, before finally relenting a little. "Maybe, maybe. Being suspended wouldn't be all that bad though, no? No math class for one thing." Just the scorn of her furious parents. Yeah okay, maybe he had a point. Still though, if she got the chance to get payback on Jayden without getting caught? She was taking it in a heartbeat. "You just gotta lend some of your golden boy street cred to me, that'll make things smoother," Atsede said with a wink. Then again, that'd decrease her Bad Girl Cool Factor. You just can't win with these things sometimes.

[Gullara]

[Fight or Flight]

Eliseo gives her a sidelong look and a grin. "Oh yeah? Well it's a good thing I like you and have enough to go around." He moves out in front of her and turns to get a better look at her. "You might end up with a few less black eyes at the very least. Buuut, I don't know if I like your odds." He gives her a wink.

[Arkhosia]

[MERC Office]

"That might be wise. It would be good to smooth over any... awkward tensions between our organizations, especially as this situation develops," Blanche suggests. "Any intel we can get from her on what she saw at the event and the new demons that appeared during it wouldn't hurt either." She blinks, realizing her phrasing. "Er, not that it would be an interrogation, of course."

[Meowmai]

[Fight or Flight]

"Lucky me, means I don't gotta steal it." She chuckles, with a slight wince. "Yeah, gotta admit, not good odds." she admits, "guess it's the price I pay for being so cool." It was a joke, of course, but she was still stoking her own ego. That black eye came with a bit of wounded pride and she had to make up for it somehow.

[Shadowcaller]

[Angelic Aftermath]

"That's right! Something like that, anyway," Fettina says, smiling. "I'm still an angel. Never stopped. But I'm a little more flexible now. Can sorta change back into a mostly normal person. Not that I ever was."

"What are you trying to summon?" Fettina asks Ilpholin, hand on one hip.

[MERC Office]

Wenomir nods to Anika's suggestion while Dipsnig just looks between Blanche and Anika slowly.

"Jaahlyn has reported to us since the incident. It doesn't appear that there were any threats made against her person. But if you wish, I can request that she speak with you. I can't order her, because she's only a license-holder."

[Into the Looking Glass]


A million Anas. Wouldn't that be a sight to see? Not, probably, a good sight. Certainly would cause some problems for the city.

Skye looks at Limuria, loosk down at her own hands, and then returns the finger-guns.
"I am well familiar with knives. Use as many as you like."
She can see where this is going. Put on the wheel of fortune, spun around, knives thrown all around her but never quite hitting - unless something goes wrong.
Oh, she's going to be so dizzy. But the show must go on, right?

[Wild Mike's]

Marianne's eyes go wide at that. Jaahlyn's doing the spooky voice again. The one that gave a rather scathing testimony at her trial and probably would have gotten her mulched if she didn't go back and give a more positive review later on. It's chilling to hear that voice come out again, especially with the implication that Jaahlyn can't really control it.

"...What I'm asking is that you do for my bandmates what you did for me." Marianne explains. "When they die, redirect them to Elysium and help make sure the trial ends in their favor. It should be easier now, since they've got a friend who can testify for them."


[Into the Looking Glass]

Siana shakes her head. No, of course, nobody's managed it. Magic that heals injuries and cures diseases is relatively commonplace; she has some of that already coursing through her, just by existing. But she's not hurt. She's not sick. Her leg is just put together in a way that doesn't let it work under normal circumstances. And it's much harder to find magic that can alter that.

[Into the Looking Glass]

Ilpholin quirks an eyebrow. The General was really going to allow this? The nymph thought she had more sense than to allow herself to be bound, disoriented, and 'attacked'. This screams assassination attempt. If one of the knives suddenly 'miss', landing in the General's throat and all these fey under Fusago's control just happened to bail from the scene leaving Ilpholin and the King in Rags behind to take the blame, well that'd be awfully convenient, wouldn't it? Hmph. Just let them try to frame the Phyrexian. Until then she's start imagining who the new government of Southside's going to be. No candidates really stand out. Maybe the General already has a protégé lined up for the job?

[Angelic Aftermath]

"If you're an angel now, does that mean you died?" Ilpholin asks Tina. Seems like the usual way people become angels after all.

"At the moment? Nothing. I've never tried summoning before in my life," Ilpholin says with a shrug, having had no concrete summoning plans. "Seeing that pixie summon you certainly has me thinking though. So many people keep summoning demons. It seems only fair to summon some angels to combat these intrusive scourges and their warlock pets, doesn't it?" Bring in some forces of good to balance out all the demonic filth infesting these lands. Maybe even take on Sargon.

[Angelic Aftermath]

Ilpholin's question seems rather concerning to Anika so she looks to Tina. Had she died at some point? That'd be awful!
Then when the nymph mentions summoning she recalls something. "Y'know, if you need with summoning, Cass's pretty good at that sort of thing. They're super-smart and demons don't even exist where they're from."

[Wild Mike's]

Jaahlyn studies Marianne's face as she's explaining all this and after a while nods in response. "...right, sorry. I though you were asking something different at first." Her voice have even returned to normal. "You kinda freaked me out there to be honest." The satyr sheepishly scratches the back of her head. "Since it sounded like you- actually, nevermind that." She shakes her head. "The, uh, issue I see is that it hopefully will take a long time until either of them die and it requires me to be nearby when it happens doesn't it? Since I'm not sure how your underworld works in terms of time and space. Last time I just went on instincts and it somehow worked out. I didn't even know I could travel to your underworld. A complete shot in the dark."

[Into the Looking Glass]

"Great! You seem to know the trick. It's pretty popular. But I have added a bit of a twist to it." Which will be evident once they approach the wheel Skye was supposed to be strapped to. Since this one really did look like a wheel of fortune with the numbers 1 to 12 painted on the triangular squares which makes it up. "You seeing these numbers here? Well, there's a game to this so try to memorize them the best you can. I got eight knives in total and I want you to call out numbers while you're strapped to this thing. Once I've thrown all the knives and the numbers added up equals to 25, no more no less, you've won and get a prize. Any questions on that?"

Meanwhile, Nye smiles at Siana. "With your permission Fusago could mend even that should you be interested." She gestures up towards the ceiling of the great tree they all were apparently inside. "When it comes to life few problems are beyond those of a yu-seed and as Ana said. You deserve a reward don't you?"

[MERC Office]

Sounded like a good idea but- wait a minute!
"Hey, what happened to that band-member who died anyway? The one of the band you were hired to protect. Since I was, uh, researching that band and apparently she's still alive. Yet I totally saw her die and she sure didn't get up again. Dead as a doorknob as they say. So did someone resurrect her or something?"

[Ironsmith]

[Wild Mike's]

"Um... yeah, that's where this gets a bit... uncomfortable." Marianne begins, nervously rubbing her hands together. "I'm not going to ask you to just hang around them until someone kicks the bucket. Even putting aside what a gigantic inconvenience that would be for you, it's just not very practical; you'd have to monitor three people at once on the off chance something happens to them and then drop everything at a moment's notice to go to them. The potential for error there is awful."

"The only fix I can see is knowing in advance when they're going to die."

Marianne lets that sit for a moment, counting on Jaahlyn to put two and two together so she doesn't have to actually say it. Even as much as she's thought this out, there's no way to make putting a hit on her friends sound good.


[Into The Looking Glass]

"...You could?"

That wasn't a possibility that had occurred to Siana before tonight. Sure, sometimes she's harbored the fantasy of walking like a regular person. And Limuria's given her a taste of everything she's missed due to a birth defect. But... could she really go through with that? She's spent her whole life with only one working leg. Adjusting to two would be an endeavor, and that's assuming Nye doesn't intend to add some sort of trick to it.

"I... I'd have to think about it." Siana replies after a moment. She turns her head back toward the stage, nonverbally declaring her intent to watch the show while she tries to make her decision.

[Recaiden]

[Into The Looking Glass]

While turning towards the wheel, Skye pauses and gives Ilpholin a wink.
Nothing to worry about here. If a knife slips, well, that'll be embarrassing for Limuria, but no real harm should be done. Unless the whole thing was a sham and this really was just to lull her into a false sense of Nye's goals and means. That's possible. Maybe there will be actual danger-to-her-in-particular. But probably not.

"Twenty-five, do you want the numbers all at once then?" she asks, stepping up to the number wheel.

[Gullara]

[Fight or Flight]

Eliseo laughs. "It's a heavy burden. Someone's gotta do it, though. Jayden's sure not. You gotta bring the average back up, you know." He grins broadly.

[Murkus]

[Angelic Aftermath]

"Well-- no, as a matter of fact. I'm honestly pretty surprised nobody ever asked me that before," Tina says, uttering a musical little chuckle. "Never died. Tellysandra sort of... turned me into this. Involuntarily, by the way. But it ain't all bad."

Fettina just glances at Anika when she brings up this Cass person. Another person she's never met, so not really her conversation. She's about to volunteer herself for angelic duties - hey, you already summoned me after all! - when she realizes she doesn't necessarily want to get caught up in what seems like kind of a crusade. Hey, Ilpholin had her thing about demons. That's cool. But she doesn't want to slam her own foot in her mouth here by committing to something when she really shouldn't.

[Meowmai]

[Fight or Flight]

Atsede grinned. "Yup, workin' on it. Doing pretty well, if I say so myself." She made a mock show of dramatically flicking her hair back before flexing her muscles. "With us two I think we got that average damn well handled."

[Shadowcaller]

[Wild Mike's]

"...as in you've seen them die in a divine prophecy?" Jaahlyn inquires as she was holding onto to the hope that her first assumption hadn't been true. Marianne was acting awfully strange but if she had seen that all her best friends were going to die soon who wouldn't be acting strange? Right?

[Into The Looking Glass]

"Nah, one at the time after each knife I throw." Limuria clarifies as Skye is being strapped into the wheel by the other Limuria's. "Also, I'm going to be wearing this-" One of the other Limuria's comes over carrying a blindfold which she hands over to Limuria prime. "-so make sure you call out those numbers loud and clear."

Then she will put on the blindfold as the general starts spinning. Slowly at first but it feels like it's picking up the pace.

Meanwhile down with the guests Nye nods to Siana. "Of course. Take your time. But it might be harder for you to reach me once the festivities are over, keep that in mind."

Her attention then slips back to the stage and she grins wildly. "Oh my. I wonder what would happen if someone else would cry out a number..." She idly wonders, though loudly enough for the entire table to hear it.