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August 2, 2001 |
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Hell's Kitchen - Rooftops...
Selene is smoking a clove seeming not surprised Pestilence is here, "Hello, shall we talk."
Pestilence offers a single nod. She casually reaches for the ring on her left hand and twists it about her finger.
Selene says "I will be honest, I do not like your group and I have a message from your master Dalt.."
Pestilence raises a brow at that, "Oh?"
Selene says "He says you're on your own, since he is now married..Your master has cut your strings."
Pestilence smirks. "And why does he send you to tell us this?"
Selene says "I spoke with him on other, more important, business and you came up in duscussion."
"And by that implication you think us not worth discussing. Yet here you are to deliver the news."
"I did such for Dalt not for you, at least he has style and grace and has his own body!"
Pestilence turns and wanders toward the edge of the building, "Goodbye, Selene."
Selene says "Goodbye body stealer, I almost pity your group and yes..I will free Rubi from Famine's hold even if I have to sell my soul."
Pestilence steps off the edge of the building and floats to the ground...
Gideon Club Lounge...
Matthew walks up the stairs, slowly as if trying to refamiliarize himself with this place.
Pestilence stands before a long rectangular shaped mirror at the end of the room. Her palm pressed flatly to it when Matthew arrives. She turns to regard him, pulling her hand from the mirror, "This is an interesting situation. Of course I'd rather have made your aquaintance several turnings ago."
Matthew squints at her for a moment. "We met."
Pestilence smirks at that, "You and I. No. Do you remember any of your ordeal.. or do you believe that you've lost time?"
Matthew smirks as well, a tear now running down his left cheak. "I remember more than I care to."
"I am not like Famine," she offers as in an attempt to set him at ease, "Though I am sure that is no consolation for what you may have been through."
Matthew says "I know well you are not Famine. I know where Famine has fled."
"I meant that metaphorically." She considers, "Do you mean to imply that you are tracking him?"
Matthew crosses his arms, the stars on one of his armbands dances wildly. "I know where Famine is."
Pestilence regards the armband casually, "That -is- beautiful." And then, "But don't you think you are being, perhaps, a little over anxious."
Matthew says "Perhaps. But I have had bad experiences of late with your type."
Pestilence moves away from the mirror and wanders in front of one of the paintings on the wall, "My type. You, of all people, should know how base that sort of statement is. You are quite the artist by the way." She studies the painting before her which are signed by Matthew, hands clasped behind her back. "But I don't want to make you uncomfortable. Please excuse me." With that, she exits the room.
Hell's Kitchen, Ruided Cathedral...
There is about 60 tons of radioactive gold a block from here.
Mat is checking for radiation sickness.
Cisco accepts a card, rushing again to get the equipment. As he brings in the pieces he always waits, checking each piece for odd behavior before leaving for a new load. There is now a great deal of medical equipment in here. The tattered crowd of refugies are all being inspected by Mat.
Cisco paces outside a small curtained area as Mat works.
Pestilence regards the area with vague interest.
Mat calls out 'next' sending one of the pregnant women waddling out again.
Cisco turns, his voice shocked. "You!" he says. A heck of a greeting for the lady at the door.
"You work so hard for these people, Cisco. I am amazed at your capacity to care."
"Won't be the first time I've dealt with crises here. This one your doing?" he asks of her.
Pestilence gazes about the room at the 'refuges', "Mmmm," is the only reply. "And I suppose you have made it your responsiblity to ease their suffering." Pestilence regards Mat with disinterest.
Cisco coughs, and mutters, "There's a bit of a problem down the street. I'll be dealing with it later. I thought it might make the people here ill."
Mat shakes his head and settles behind the curtain again to inspect his next patient.
Cisco edges over to Pestilence, quietly speaking to her. "I found out something about the spell. It's going to have to wait a little longer, before it's cast. At least, before it's safe to cast it."
Pestilence regards Cisco cooly, "You are referring to the spell that Death will be participating in?"
Mat keeps quiet for a while.
Cisco nods. "There's an innocence effect. I don't understand the soul and mind mumbo jumbo, but clearly the statistical relationship between innocent lives and erm, more experienced lives, makes a difference in the spell..."
"You must explain."
Cisco's lowers his voice. It's not that hard to hear him in the stillness of the room, but he tries to keep it quiet. "These people have been through a lot. Some of them have done stuff to defend their own families, and them selves, from what is out there. Out of 400, only a handfull are children too young to have had to make those sorts of terrible decisions. You know what I mean, hey?"
"And this effects the spell in what way, Cisco."
Mat says "Next." The next patient comes to the curtain to see Mat. She rests her hands on the bulge of her belly, and shuffles barely able to walk.
Pestilence glances over at Mat as he calls for another patient. Mat offers the lady a hand as she comes near the curtain.
Cisco says "I started looking into it because the spells cast on this cathedral are weakened every time a child here dies. The death of an adult don't seem to effect them at all. These spells are related to controlling the spell Death intends to cast... um, I think. And the more children around, the safer the spell will be. Maybe safe enough for her to survive it."
Pestilence nods, "Perhaps it is better that Kitsune not survive."
Cisco looks surprised, "What?"
"Kitsune's aura is very strong." She smiles, "As was her mother's if I recall correctly. Death has become so intertwined in that aura that she has become riddled with guilt over her very existance." She smiles at Cisco, "Have you ever thought how you might feel if it were your job to be the harbringer of death?"
Cisco shakes his head, "It's part of life. I'm glad it's not my job, but it's part of the whole."
"I didn't ask what you thought about death, Cisco. I asked how you would feel if you were responsible for it. Can you grasp what I am asking you?"
Cisco says "I think so, but I think a lot of stuff. I hear you when you say she's not happy, hey. What can we do for her?"
"Nothing. Because of Kitsune, Death has discovered guilt. She believes that she will be repentant of that guilt if she saves these people. Consequently, Death would do well if Kitsune were to die."
Cisco sighs, "If there's a possibility to save her, shouldn't we at least try?"
"Saving Kitsune, per say, is of no consequence to me. The only thing that matters is that Death rid herself of her guilt and attend to the tasks at hand."
"Survival matters, Duanya Pestilence. You always pass over a few, don't you? You always leave a few to carry on. They don't ask your help. Hell, some of them curse you for taking their loved ones away and leaving them."
"But the choice is not mine alone. I don't discriminate. And Neither should Death."
Mat checks an old man's tone for hints of the cough and allusion to alcohol. It's not a grand, soul lifting hope in the old man's eyes, but there is hope. He coughs, spittle and phlem being easy enough to come by, if the price is right.
Cisco says "Discriminate for or against what? It's still only a 2 percent shift in odds."
Pestilence shrugs, "What would you have me do, Cisco. If you could effectuate such a thing."
Cisco says "Um, don't hurt the children, of course, or the mothers. Hey, I got agood idea, how about you and I go see a cinema in Banished Sun?"
Pestilence blinks. "Go see a .. cinema." She raises a brow, "I'm not sure I understand you."
Cisco says "Do something fun? _elsewhere_?" He pauses, then slaps his forehead. "Oh, wait, I gotta move 60 tons of radioactive gold first."
"Radioactive gold. I can't imagine what the purpose of such a thing could be."
"It's a temple."
"Destroyed by?"
Cisco says "Being built. It's a temple to the sun. Look, I saw it in the Abyss. I got to finish building it and deliver it. But I can't keep that stuff here." Cisco looks tired, and muzzy with confusion. "Arg..." he mutters, to himself.
Pestilence raises a brow as she listens to Cisco, "Ah. Of course. You are pressed for time then, it would seem."
Mat looks out from behind the curtain as he looks around the room. "Cisco, if you're done with the lady, you need to make another run. I'll write up a list."
"A list? For what."
Cisco grins, no, he beams at Pestilence. "Thanks!" He turns back to Mat, nodding "Yeah, sure I'll get stuff. List?"
Mat says "Yeah. Very, specific directions."
Cisco takes the list, glancing through it quickly, "But, Mat!"
She regards Cisco as he reviews the note.
Mat says "No buts. I'll take care of the heavy metal. My people will take care of this place. That leaves you taking care of yourself. And I WILL."
Cisco says "But...but I can move it..."
Pestilence crosses her arms over her chest as the two men converse.
Mat says "You can barely stand up straight. I can smell how exhausted you are. We've been over this before, too. If you don't start taking care of yourself, I'm gonna start regimenting how much time you can spend each day on activities. And I'll FIND a way to make it stick. Occasionally running yourself to rags is ok. But you're doing it too often."
Cisco looks like a kid as he mutters, "It's my responsibility."
Mat says "Not any more. Never call in a control freak for help. We get bossy."
Pestilence smirks at the conversation, "on that note, gentlemen."
Cisco says "I can lift a lot of weight by looking at things..." He whines. He also misses Pestilence's comment. "They shouldn't be in danger for things I screwed up myself! "
Mat shrugs. "It can wait."
Pestilence reaches into the inner pocket of her jacket and pulls forth a number of cards.
Mat nods to Pestilence.
Pestilence selects a card from the collection and begins to focus on the image.