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November 4, 2002 |
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World's End bar...
Yosannah scratches the back of her left
hand as she wanders toward the bar. Selene sees Yosannah and does a
double take. Jack turns and look at Selene with a smile. Selene
comments to Yosannah, "Been a long time."
Yosannah is waving at the bartender,
seeking his attention, as Selene addresses her. "Selene. Why, hello.
I'd say it has, depending on where you've been spending your time
that is."
Selene says "Let's just say I have kept
myself busy.."
"I have no doubt."
Selene grins and repiles to Yosannah,
"Yourself?"
"I am feeling much like myself as of
late, thank you." She nods to the bartender as he wanders toward her,
"Can I just get a coffee, Harvey." He nods and she smiles, "Thanks."
Selene smiles commenting to Yo, "Now that
actually makes my day."
Selene says "Did anyone go to that Dalt
Auction?"
Random says "What auction?" Random does a
double-take.
Sarah laughs. "Oh, aunt Jasra put an end
to *that*."
Selene says "Heard someone was trying to
seel off Dalt."
Meryl says "Of course she would."
Random says "Dalt could be sold? Like a
blue-light special?!"
Yosannah chuckles.
Sarah says "A clone, or something. Jasra
only paid a copper coin, too. One copper coin. Which may be a subtle
comment about what value she places on him."
Random says "No one could out bid one
copper coin?"
Yosannah says "Pahlease. She showed up,
threw some weight around and that was that."
Sarah says "No, no. Plenty of people had
higher value bids. They really should have picked a different place
to hold the auction than Begma, for god's sake."
Selene says "I heard no one was allowed
to."
Yosannah says "Exactly. Obnoxious."
Sarah says "Nobody messes with Jasra
because nobody wants uncle Brand to notice them. Which is actually
quite wise."
Yosannah says "If you say so."
Random says "Brand is a big pushover."
Yosannah smiles at Random's words.
Yosannah says "Just like Martin, aren't you. Wiseass"
Random says "Chip off the old block!"
Yosannah smirks and gulps some of her
coffee.She seems disinterested in the conversation. She reaches for a
bowl of peanuts.
Meryl says "As opposed to Jasra, who
occasionally shows up, insults people, then leaves when they insult
back, but makes it seems as if she's leaving because the other person
isn't worth listening to."
Yosannah says "I'd call it something
else."
Sarah says "Mm. My last conflict with her
involved, as I remember, a great deal of thrown magic. She was
unhappy."
Selene says "Mine was just a
letter..guess I am not worthy of the spells."
Yosannah, obviously disgusted, says
"Please, Sel. SHE isn't worth your time."
Selene nods to Yosannah, "Out of respect
I shall stop then."
Yosannah says "Good, those idiots aren't
worth talking about."
Random snickers, "I was being so
entertained but all of this."
Yosannah smirks at Random, "YOU would be,
sick muther-fucker."
Random says "It is a fulltime job, young
lady."
Yosannah laughs.
Random's ears twitch. "Someone somewhere
is talking about me."
Yosannah mumbles, "Random Random Random.
Random Random" She then pauses and looks up at him, "Ooops. Sorry.
Hate when I do that."
Random grins. "My ears are burning!"
Meryl says "Anyone got a cigarette?"
Yosannah shakes her head, "Sorry."
Random says "I quit smoking, sorry."
Random says "
Jack ain't this nice odds. You and me and
four chicks! I think we are some sexy beasts!"
Yosannah looks up and down the bar,
"Chicks? Where?"
Jack hrmms, "I thought it was you..... me
and four ladies."
Random says "Yeah that is more political
and polite way of putting it. But when you are me, you can get away
with a mouth like mine."
Yosannah turns toward Selene, "Sel. How
is Ruby, by the way?"
Selene whispers "I had to fight the other
side of her..was not pretty."
"And what happened" Selene whispers "I
think I put 'IT' to sleep..but let's just say it was not friendly.."
"How did you do that?"
Selene whispers "I am a nercomancer...and
is not the other a spirit."
"Not in the true sense of the word, I
don't think so." Yosannah bites at her lower lip as she leans toward
Selene and converses with her. "Maybe... Hmm. Nevermind. I'm sure
everything is okay."
Selene whispers "I spoke with Dalt and
got the full history on the others and then visited the shadow
myself..a trip I pray I shall never do again."
Yosannah blinks Jack raises an eyebrow at
Selene,. "You did? You found the shadow?"
Selene nods. Yosannah tugs at Selene's
Jacket, "Come with me to a table for a bit..."
"As you wish."
They sit at a table under the balcony.
Yosannah places her coffee mug before her and crosses her hands on
the table. "Two things I have to share with you."
"I'm all ears." Yosannah nods, "The
first. Stay on your guard when you're with Ruby. I have no doubt that
not everything is as it seems. Or at least know that I don't believe
Famine simply allowed you to contain him within Ruby. And I say this
from experience."
Selene says "I have a feeling Famine will
try to claim me..."
Yosannah says "Perhaps. But Damen tried
to free me once. As did one of his great Aunts. As did Merlin. These
things are more then just spirits." She bites at her lip, "I can feel
it, every day. And it's an ongoing struggle - one that I do not think
I can win if she wants to resurface. Understand?"
Selene nods.."If needed I will free Rubi
one way or another..the thing is driving her nuts." Y
osannah says "I would never belittle your
attempts to try such a thing, though I feel it would be senseless and
pointless given those that have tried to do the same for me.
Nevertheless, my second point..."
Selene listens in silence.
Yosannah says "The shadow of Apocalypse,
you've been there? You know how to get there?"
Selene says "I have been there once at
least I think it was that, a place of conflict always and much death
and suffering..."
Yosannah nods, "Do you think you could
find your way back."
Selene says "I could..if needed, but it
is not a place I would want to go to again unless it was no other
option."
Yosannah says "I need to get back there."
Her voice is urgent. You *must* help me."
Selene says "Why, explain in detail..."
Yosannah says "I want to, and I'm not so
sure that I can trust you just yet."
Selene says "If I am going back into that
hell, I should know and yes you can trust me..end of story."
Yosannah bites at her lower lip again.
Selene watches Yosannah - her eyes seems very serious. Yosannah says
"A few years ago, Merlin gave me a trinket. An amulet of great
healing and other magics. I was very ill and he had hoped that it's
healing ability would make me well. Of course, I wasn't sick. It was
just Petilence's first presence within me." She shakes her head as
she recalls, "But we didn't know it at the time."
Selene says "You think it is in that
shadow?"
Yosannah says "I know it is. Merlin spoke
to Pestilence one night after I told him that I had lost his amulet.
He was enraged when I couldn't recall how I had lost it. He probed my
mind for the answer and she came forth for the first time. He learned
that she had taken it into shadow and hid it."
Selene says "Then you want me to take you
into that hell and find it.."
Yosannah says "It's a powerful object.
One I want to get back. One I'm sure Merlin wishes we had back. But,
perhaps, if we find it, I can use it on Rubi. Of all of us, Famine is
the weakest and has been in his host for the least amount of time. If
it will work or not, I do not know. But it is worth a try, don't you
think?"
Selene nods.."Just the two of us I hope?"
"I don't know. We may need help."
Selene says "Not my style..usually I work
alone..but I can do it just with you..bigger the group the slower we
will be."
Yosannah reflects quietly, not
particularly interested in Selene's last comment. "I'll catch up with
you, either way, in a few days. Where can we meet?"
"Hell's Kitchen new club there..."
Yosannah says "What's it called?"
Selene says "Hell's maid something, used
to be the church."
Yosannah says "THE church? From the
Inferno?"
Selene nods.
Yosannah says "Good. I'll catch up with
you then." She stands and leaves the table under the balcony. "Take
care." Yosannah's image begins to fade...
Gideon Club Lounge...
Yosannah sits in the leather recliner and
stares at the chess board on the table as Ryker enters.
Ryker remarks, "There you are."
Yosannah mumbles, "What's up."
Ryker, casual as ever, "With me? Nothing.
Yourself?" Ryker maneuvers his way over, heading for the bar.
Yosannah exhales, "Not much."
Ryker retorts, "Liar." Finds himself a
beer.
Yosannah looks up at Ryker, "Liar? What's
that all about?"
Ryker cracks the beer open, returning the
look. "Don't be coy with me, you were staring a hole through that
table. I can recognize deep thoughts." Ryker comments, "Besides, it
must be serious if you're willing to slum with Selene." He drinks
deeply.
Yosannah eyes Ryker, "What are you
talking... You weren't in the bar just now, were you?"
"I was, briefly. You were too engrossed
with Selene to notice. Still. It's /Selene/."
Yosannah waves Ryker off dismissively,
"As if one has anything to do with the other."
Ryker mms, appearing dubious. "So the
though of Selene leading you all through Shadow is no big deal, eh.
That's either really naive, or really desperate."
Yosannah tilts her head, now obviously
agitated, "You're spy'n on me. Whether I should be flattered or
annoyed, I do not know." She drums her fingers on the arm of the
recliner.
Ryker retorts, "Stop dodging the topic.
Stone, Damen, or I know numerous shadowwalkers. Ones much more
trustworthy and competent than Selene."
Yosannah chuckles, "You are assuming you
know what it is that Selene and I were talking about. You know
better." She mumbles, "That's twice I've been underestimated today.
It's getting rather annoying."
Ryker drums his own fingers now,
thinking. The metal sheathed fingers of his right hand on the counter
top is much louder.
Yosannah slumps into the recliner and
slings one leg over the arm of the chair. "What do you want to know,
Ryker. Just ask. I hate this cat and mouse shit."
Ryker licks his lips, guessing, "Selene
found something, something you've been looking for. Maybe not just
you, but all the horsemen. That's why you need her to lead you
through Shadow in specific. Something dangerous. Having to do with
the horsemen. Maybe something that will cure you." Ryker prompts,
"How close is that?"
Yosannah smirks. "You're ... You're right
on two points. It has something to do with me and the horsemen and an
object. You're not even close on my purpose." She studies him, "What
makes you think I want to be cured? Why is it that you assume my
ambitions are so low?"
Ryker shrugs. She shakes her head and
returns her gaze to the chess board. Ryker shrugs before you look
away. Ryker says "I said maybe. Admittedly, I've minimal insight on
just what Pestilence is, and about the same amount of concern. I'm
sure if it was a problem that needed handling, Stone or Damen would
have done so by now."
"Stone and Damen. Hmph. Stone is an idiot
and Damen has failed to correct what he sees as the 'problem' on
multiple occasions."
Ryker grunts, vague. Ryker prompts, "And
myself?"
Yosannah raises a brow, "What about you?
What do you think you're going to do about my 'problem'?"
Ryker kills the can of beer in little
time. "This isn't about me. If Selene's an Amberite, I'm a dragon.
Which means her method of traveling Shadow is using a broken Pattern.
If Chaos has done one intelligent thing, its not letting her Lorgrim
ass near their Logrus. I see her shadowwalk into the World's End, and
only a fool risks the flaw when they could trump in five heartbeats.
And trumps of the World's End are like toilet paper." sniffs, leaning
forward on the bar, gaining a mild scowl. "For this and other
reasons, I'm saying don't make use of Selene. I know her, from way
back. If you're following her, you're risking the Flaw just the
same." States, relaxing back, "Find another way."
"Well, then. We're agreed. I have no
intention of trekking around shadow alone with Selene." Yosannah
considers, "Why don't you come with me."
Ryker mms, attention turning immediately
to his empty beer. He lowers himself to the fridge, digging for
another. Slowly. While down there, he explains, "See, the idea is to
pull your head out of guillotine. Not put mine in next to yours."
Yosannah smiles, "Ryker, you don't know
what this thing can do. It belonged to Merlin."
Ryker rises, unimpressed. "Which Merlin."
"Merle Corey. Corwin's boy."
Ryker ahs briefly,"So you're saying it's
worth the risk." He qualifies, "In your opinion."
"My opinion is the only one there is
right now. Obviously, I think so." Yosannah climbs out of the
recliner.
Ryker reminds, "I have my own." He doesn't open the beer. "I have to attend something, but I'll give the idea some thought and leave you a note here later." Yosannah nods, "Fair enough. 'Til then."