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December 21, 1998
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World's End Bar...
Yosannah hops off the barstool and snatches her jacket as she does, leaving her shotglass behind. Yosannah turns her attention to Merlin, "Oh. it's you." She smirks.
Merlin nods. "It is." Merlin orders a bottle of beer. The bartender pushes it across the bar and it slides to a stop in front of him.
Delerium wanders over in Yosannah's direction. "You leaving?" she asks, sounding disappointed. She gives Merlin a curious, peripheral glance.
Yosannah pushes her stool back to the bar and looks at her jacket, at Merlin and then at Del. "Ah. I guess I'm not."
Merlin smirks at Yosannah.
Delerium grins. "Oh, don't stay on my account. I'm just on a--" she blinks, glancing Merlin's way again. "Oh. Uh. Are you gonna keep sitting at the bar?"
Yosannah smiles, "Del, do you know Merle?"
Merlin says "Hi, Del."
Delerium looks at Merlin thoughtfully. "Um. Nope." She decides to smile at him anyway. "Hello Merle!"
Merlin says "Nice outfit." It's not clear if that's sincere or not.
Delerium looks down at her silk dress, then up again. "Oh! Thank you. Nice... um... nice goatee." She sounds... well, polite.
Yosannah nudges Merlin, "Smartass.."
Merlin laughs. "I was thinking of shaving it. I've had it for a few years. Might be time to change."
Sabor offers, to the room, blandly, "Has anyone ever noticed that nobody is capable, it seems, of constructing a forthright statement?"
Delerium scrutinizes Merlin's facial hair. "You'd look younger without it."
Merlin looks over at Sabor. "Pardon?"
Remiel inclines his head politely to the bar proper, then turns towards the door.
Sabor says "Apparently, we live in a world of Humpty Dumpties."
Yosannah doesn't seem to notice that Merlin has turned his attention elsewhere. "You wanna grab a table, Del. We can share a plate of fries."
She nods and smiles.
Merlin says "You mean everyone is falling down and breaking their necks?"
Sabor shakes "I mean that words mean only what people intend them to mean. They have no meanings of their own."
Delerium blinks at Sabor. "Hey, who you calling humpty?"
Merlin says "Ahh." Merlin looks back to Yo and Del.
Delerium decides a booth is more to her liking, and slides in, waiting for Yosannah.
Yosannah tugs at Merlin's shirt and nods toward Del's table.
Sabor glances after Remiel. "Bloody silly, some people are."
Merlin follows them over.
Delerium asks, "You wanna share some fries with us, Merle?"
Yosannah yells toward a waitress for an order of fries and then mumbles at Merlin, "How come you talk to all the wackos, Corey. I don't get you."
Delerium looks at Yosannah, confused.
Delerium says "I thought you said his name was Merle."
Yosannah shrugs, "Oh, Corey is his last name."
Delerium wrinkles her nose a little. "Just don't start calling me Greenmoon," she giggles.
Merlin chuckles. "And she talks to me about talking to wackos."
Niccolo mutters to Fialka.
Fialka sits down at the table near the staircase.
Delerium says "Talking to wackos can be very enlightening sometimes." She glances at Sabor a moment. "But I don't like him. He looks like that scary Thanlis guy."
Yosannah says "What's a Thanlis?"
Merlin is very matter-of-fact: "One of the Houses in Chaos. They're all incubi and succubi."
Yosannah glances over her shoulder at Sabor, inspecting him for a moment and then turning back toward Delerium.
Delerium nods, corroborating Merlin's words. "They suck souls, and the Lord of the House, what's his name, he's *very* dangerous."
Yosannah says "Oh." She considers, "Ah, what's a soul sucker? That's disgusting."
Merlin says "Bassor. They eat your life energy while having sex or some such thing."
Delerium says "Succubi... is the female one, right?" She looks to Merlin for confirmation. "And incubi is a male."
Merlin nods. "Right."
Yosannah peeks over her shoulder again, looking for the waitress and her fries. Yosannah says "Aren't you in a house, Del?"
Delerium nods. "Yep! Didn't I already tell you, Yo? Jasner."
Yosannah shrugs, "Probably did, but Chaos' house system confuses me. I can't keep the straight for some reason."
Delerium looks at Merlin. "Do you know about House Jasner, too?"
Yosannah regards Merlin Yosannah pauses and reflects, "This is the first I have heard of it."
Delerium wrinkles her nose again. "Yo, you're silly. My mommy's in Jasner, and you met her too."
Sabor stands and leaves the bar.
Calder nods to Sabor. "Later."
Yosannah pouts, "Doesn't mean I know what house you're from. I know your last name, don't I?"
Sabor takes a brief pause to breathe... then goes to the exit door and out of it.
Delerium giggles. "Aw c'mon, Yo, I'm just teasing. You're a good friend."
Yosannah mocks a sniffle, "Yeah yeah... Hey. Where is your mom. I haven't seen her in a month"
Delerium looks around, and smiles in anticipation as the fries finally arrive. Swiftly, she snatches up the accompanying bottle of ketchup and smothers half the fries in its contents. She then blinks at Yosannah, ketchup still oozing out of the bottle. Delerium says "Oh... uh... you like ketchup on your fries, right?" she smiles sheepishly.
Yosannah says "Of course!" She snags a couple of fries and the salt shaker. She salts each one individually before popping it into her mouth. "So...." She munches with her mouth full, "your mom."
Delerium helps herself to some fries, not seeming to mind getting ketchup on her hands. Or her face. "Right, Mommy. She's around, pretty much staying in her Ways. She's teaching me how to shift better."
Yosannah nods, "Hmm. Wish I could do that." She sighs and stuffs a few more fries in her mouth.
Delerium considers, a soggy french fry in her grasp. "Y'know... well, actually I don't know. But you could ask around and see if maybe you could learn how. I mean, Nash learned, and Kamites don't naturally shift, I don't think."
Yosannah nods and then adds, "Hey!! I didn't tell you. Stone's new girly-friend is helping me learn about trumps."
Delerium's eyes widen. "Really? You're gonna be a trump artist? That's so cool!!"
Yosannah nods modestly, "Yeah. Well, I suck at it so.. who knows"
Delerium laughs. "That's why you need Stone's girly-friend to teach you!" She blinks. "Uh, who is his girly-friend? Alayne, right? That lady who lives in Fairmir?"
Yosannah says "Yeah. Alayne" She makes a face.
Delerium says "Why do I get the feeling that you don't like Alayne all that much?"
Yosannah sighs and goops some more ketchup onto her fries. "Nah. I do. It's just that she's so..." She exhales "I don't know. Have you ever been to her place? That mirror castle?"
Delerium shakes her head. Then nods. Then shakes her head again. "Er... well, yeah," she finally decides.
Yosannah laughs, "Are you sure?"
Yosannah nods, "I don't know. I guess..." She glances up at Merlin as he sips his drink quietly. "I find it rather strange that she and Stone are... well, you know."
Delerium glances at Merlin, also. "I feel weird about it, too." She sighs. "Not that I expected Stone never to date again. I just.. miss Yoshiwara."
Yosannah seems about to add something to that, but changes her mind and nods, "Yeah. Hel is so much like her though, you know."
Delerium nods and smiles a little. "Yeah, she is. I'm glad I'm friends with her. It's sorta like... Leman's still with me."
Yosannah nods silently and munches on a couple fries. "I didn't know her ah.. him as Leman."
Delerium's smile softens, and her gaze wanders a little. "He was wonderful... very sweet, and kind, and exciting..." She blinks, and blushes. "Well. It was time for Stone to move on, anyway."
Yosannah says "I heard he was an asshole."
Delerium bursts into laughter suddenly, too loud to be contained at her booth. She clamps a ketchup-stained hand over her mouth quickly, but her amusement is still obvious to anyone in the bar.
Yosannah gawks at Del and shrugs her shoulders in bewilderment. "What???"
Delerium shakes her head at Yosannah, her body trembling as she continues to laugh behind her hand.
Yosannah says "Hel told me that!" She watches Del, "Well, she did!"
Merlin purses his lips and smiles lightly at Yosannah and Delerium, looking between the two ladies as they speak.
Delerium finally gets some control, but she still snickers as she replies, "W-well... I'm sure *giggle* he was to some. He told me he was an asshole too. But he wasn't to me."
Yosannah eyes Del suspiciously, "... you didn't...."
Delerium blinks at Yosannah, then begins to look a little nervous. "I didn't what?"
Yosannah leans closer to Del and looks into her eyes, "YOU.. didn't."
Delerium leans back, away from Yosannah, and replies defensively, "I don't know what you're talking about!" She casts a sidelong glance at Merlin and blushes.
Yosannah says "You and him.." She smiles, "Well?"
Delerium's blush grows. She looks down at the table. Very softly, she murmurs, "I didn't know it was him, at the time."
Yosannah smiles as her mouth drops. She pulls her hand to her face in astonishment. "Get out!!"
Delerium says "The Rac virus... it messed me up. I thought he... I thought he was an old boyfriend."
Yosannah smiles and nods. "You crazy girl you."
Delerium looks up at Yosannah and snaps something. There are tears standing in her eyes. "Dammit Yo, it's not funny!! I didn't want it to-- he was like a brother to me, and then he died! He died before I got better... before I could tell him... tell him that I forgave him..."
Yosannah bites her lip and frowns. She reaches for Del's hand, "Del, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories for you."
Merlin sits quietly, just listening to the conversation, almost as though he wasn't even there.
Delerium lets Yosannah take her hand. She sniffles a bit, unshed tears disappearing. "I know... it was so long ago, but it's still hard. I really miss him."
Yosannah looks up at Merlin, not sure what to say. "I know Del. A friend of mine died less then a year ago. I miss her lots too. I am sorry though. I feel horrible"
Delerium looks at Merlin again. "Your friend's very quiet, Yo." Her jovial mood returns. "Don't feel bad! We've still got each other, and all these yummy fries."
Yosannah follows Del's gaze to Merlin.
Merlin chuckles. "Sorry, my mind's just wandering."
Delerium pats Merlin's arm. "That's okay. Hey, tell Yo about House Jasner!"
Merlin says "Actually, I don't know much about Jasner. They were formed after I left Chaos."
Delerium's eyes widen a bit. "Oooh. Does that mean you're old?"
Merlin says "Not really. It wasn't all that long ago."
Delerium says "Ooh... you mean when it was *reformed*."
Yosannah munches on the fries, which have gotten cold. She doesn't seem to mind.
Merlin says "Ahh."
Delerium smiles. "Do you know anything about it at all? I'm just curious."
Merlin shakes his head. "Nope."
Delerium looks disappointed. "Do you know Great Uncle Mikloshe? He's the Lord of the House, and Keeper of the Logrus!"
Yosannah says "I've heard of him!"
Merlin says "Oh, yes, I've heard the name. I'm not sure I've ever met him."
Delerium gestures with her arms. "He's a tall dark haired guy with wings. Can't miss 'im." She grins. "He's very busy, he's not around the House much. House Jasner is a great House because everyone's very nice."
Merlin says "I haven't been back to Chaos...well, other than a brief stop at Sawall...in a long time. Anyway, I've got to get going. I've got to get Yo's Christmas gift."
Yosannah peps up at this, "My Christmas gift? Whatcha gonna get?"
Delerium slumps a little. "Oh, okay. It was nice to meet you, Merle."
Merlin says "That's a secret, Yo."
Yosannah looks at Del and then back to Merlin, "Oh. Okay. Well, I'm gonna stay here with Del. So. I guess I'll catch up with you later?"
Merlin nods. "Yea. You know how to get 'hold of me. Stop by tonight."
Yosannah smiles, "Of course." She reaches for a napkin and wipes the salt from her fingers.
Delerium keeps her gaze on Merlin as she pokes at the remaining fries.
Merlin leans over and gives Yosannah a light kiss on the cheek. He mutters, "See you soon, love."
Yosannah reaches up and touches her cheek. She smiles as he leaves.
Merlin disappears in a silvery shimmer.
Delerium sniffs. "He didn't say bye to me!" she looks hurt.
Yosannah scratches her temple, "He's umm... In his own little world sometimes. It's nothing personal I'm sure." She tries to be reassuring.
Delerium makes a face, then squints. "So... what's up with this guy, anyway? Where'd you find him?"
Yosannah bites her lip, "Ah, here actually. Damen introduced us. I started talking to him a bit after Damen ah left. He's friends with Damen's dad I guess."
Delerium shakes her head a little. "You meet some strange people, Yo."
Yosannah smiles and chuckles, "What's that mean?"
Delerium laughs. "They're all so... so... I dunno, so spooky! That Merle guy, he just sits here and sits here and then he goes poof!"
Yosannah laughs, "I suppose you're right, he doesn't say much around my friends. I tried to introduce him to Stoner but it didn't go so well."
Delerium grins. "He did! Okay, I don't feel so bad, then. If he blew off *Stone*, well..."
Yosannah says "Nah, Stone was asking him all kinds of personal questions and he..." she pauses, "Del. He wasn't blowing you off."
Delerium hmms. "We'll see how he behaves the next time I see him." She winks.
Yosannah nods and smiles, "Well, anyway. I'm been spending lots of time with him since Damen and I split."
Delerium asks curiously, "Yo, how come you and Damen still hang out and stuff even though you split up?"
Yosannah shakes her head, "We...ah. We don't. I haven't seen him in about three months."
Delerium blinks. "Really?" she blushes slightly. "Ah... sorry."
Yosannah smiles through disappointment. "Thanks. Hey, I'm okay though. It's difficult, but..." she smiles and shakes her head, "listen to me blab!" She smiles, "Now I'm sorry."
Delerium says softly, "You're not blabbing, Yo. I'm always here to listen to you." She smiles warmly. "Do you like this Merle guy?"
Yosannah nods, "I do. But sometimes I feel guilty when I'm with him."
Delerium blinks. "Why?"
Yosannah seems like she's having a hard time coming up with the right words, "I suppose it's because I think of Damen pretty frequently. I wonder if there was something I could have done to make things better." She exhales slowly and rests her head in the palm of her hand. "It's crazy. You remember helping Damen with his lapses, right? Well, he had a difficult time adjusting and..." she shrugs.
Delerium interjects, quietly, "But you still love each other."
Mat starts in on his greetings, "Nephew, niece, blah, blah . . ." Having run out of steam he slumps into a chair and puts his feet up.
Yosannah nods, "Sure. But I can't sit around and spend my life hoping that will work. Corey is hear now. And we get on well and we're fond of one another. You know?"
Delerium looks up at Mat's voice and giggles. "Hi!" she waves to him, then looks at the males in the bar curiously.
Yosannah glances across the bar at the man Del just waved to and then turns back toward her table.
Delerium smiles, not too distracted to reply, "I know, Yo. Sometimes love isn't enough to make a relationship work." Delerium comments, "I wonder who he called his nephew. Wow, that guy looks like a girl. Doesn't he look like a girl?"
Yosannah nods, she doesn't comment on the people at the bar but continues, "I know. And there's something else. Something that I actually wanted to talk to your mom about. I've been very sick, and I don't. I need to see her."
Delerium focuses her attention on Yo suddenly. "You're sick??" she looks concerned. "What's wrong?"
"It's hard to explain. I guess the best way to put it is like Merlin did. He called it a 'Godling'. It's a part of me and it makes me sick."
Delerium looks incredibly confused. "Merlin? Godling? Yo, what the heck is going on?"
Yosannah smiles and shakes her head, "I don't know, you see. She calls herself Pestilence. Like one of the horsemen in the New Testament. You know of Earth's New Testament, don't you?"
Delerium nods a little. "The four horsemen... war, famine, death, and pestilence. But I don't see what..." she blinks. "Wait. Pestilence is part of *you*?"
Yosannah nods, "Something like that. And there are others..."
Delerium leans forward. "You're saying... you have separate personalities, living inside you?"
Yosannah leans forward as well, "No. It's not me. It's not like I have other personalities. It's like she infected me and uses me to keep all these illnesses. I think I've killed people... and I have this memory of going to Kashfa and saving everyone from some virus ... I don't understand it, but I wanted your mom to examine me. Nobody else knows."
Delerium frowns. "This sounds very strange, Yo... but it sounds familiar, too. I'll tell Mommy you're looking for her, okay?"
Yosannah smiles and nods. "It would help a lot. I... Merlin thinks he can get rid of her, but I have this suspicion that she's the only thing that keeps all these viruses and things in me from killing me and I'm scared."
Delerium snaps her fingers. "It's like a parasite. Except you're the host, so the parasite doesn't attack *you*... not right away, anyway."
Yosannah nods at this realization, "I haven't thought of it like that. Maybe you're on to something. Hmmm."
Delerium suggests, "Talk to Mommy, see what she says. I'll work on it, too."
Yosannah nods and smiles, "Thanks Del. I mean it." She pauses and bites her lip, "I haven't told anyone else.. I don't really want people to know. Is that okay?"
Delerium smiles. "No problem, Yo, I won't tell anybody."
Yosannah smiles with relief, "Thanks. I have to get going. You want the rest of these fries?"
Delerium eyes the remaining fries. "Sure! I'll finish 'em. You take care, and I'll see you again soon, okay?"
Yosannah smiles at Delerium as she slides out of the booth. "Great. I'll catch up to you soon. Thanks Del." elerium gives Yosannah a bright smile and a wave. "Later!"