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June 10, 2001 |
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World's End Bar....
Ryker orders a dark ale. The bartender hands it to a server who takes it to table on the far wall and sets it before him.
Yosannah regards Ryker again. After a moment she gathers up her jacket and abruptly hops off her stool.
Ryker drinks at a healthy pace, eyes shifting over to Yosannah as she rises, but little else.
Yosannah slides her arms into her jacket as she wanders over to Ryker's table and pulls out a chair.
Ryker squints, just a little. Michael starts playing a catchy blues tune.
Yosannah plops herself into the chair.
Ryker grunts.
Yosannah says "Well, goddamn. And here I thought I'd have to say something first. That's refreshing, Ryk. It really is."
Ryker exhales a bit heavy, weathered features bland. Sarcastically, "Happy to oblige." He clears his throat.
Yosannah smirks, "And you're full of shit too. I knew I liked you."
Ryker retorts, "I like the collar, it makes a good statement, but what's with the eyes."
Yosannah reaches up at the collar around her neck, absent-mindedly, "An unfortunate side effect."
Ryker prompts, lightly, "Of?"
Yosannah regards Ryker cooly. "I'm infested with some sort of entity. The collar is a less-than-charming gift from Damen which keeps it at bay. For now." She smiles matter of factly.
Ryker grimaces, uncharacteristically.
"Facinating, isn't it?" She crosses her arms over her chest and slumps down in her chair.
Ryker sniffs, ahems. Finishes his tankard, then states, "Actually, I've been in your shoes before." Ryker orders a dark ale. The bartender hands it to a server who takes it to table on the far wall and sets it before him.
Yosannah nods, "Oh?" She asks, almost as if disinterested.
Ryker rubs his rough cheek somewhat ruefully, eyes on his drink mostly now. "Yes, some years back, though nobody knew it."
"And what happened?"
Ryker considers for a time. Then answers, wetting his lips, "She only influenced me in minor ways while in me, until she had the opportunity." Ahem. "To jump to a better host. The daughter of the host before me." He adds, "Whom I'd killed."
Yosannah bites at her lower lip, recognition falling over her face, she leans forward as she realizes that he is talking about her old friend, Mariko. "Don't play with me like that."
Ryker spreads his hands a bit, looking back at her again. "True story, I swear. Sounds plain, I know, but that's about all there was too it." A drink, and he grows more casual about it. "I didn't pursue the daughter since she didn't mess with me. Her mother and I had been great enemies."
Yosannah says "You're lying. I know who killed Mariko and it sure as hell wasn't you."
Ryker states, mild, "Leland is merely the popular suspect, because he applied the finishing blow."
Yosannah blinks, "Stone told me it was Leland. He never said anything about you."
Ryker continues, "I was the one who beat her to an inch of her life, and she'd likely have died soon after in any event, Chaosian or no." Clears his throat semi-often, figiting a moment. "The whatever inside of her must have sensed my intentions, as it was probably during this beating that she jumped to me. There was a lot of skin-to-skin contact, if that's what's required. Not really my area of expertise."
Yosannah flinches at his words, "You're unloading a lot on me here, Ryk. I don't suppose you know that Mar was a good friend of mine."
Ryker shrugs, wiping a hand over his mouth. "Stone was unhappy with me for attacking Mariko while she was sitting with him, but we've always had a good relationship overall. Unlike him and Leland. So it's natural he'd take an easy opportunity to pin Leland in public opinion, since Leland finished her off. I've never been a big fan of killing. Not particularly bloodthirsty."
Yosannah nods. "I know about his relationship with Leland. If I recall correctly, that was about the same time that Damen had him banished from Kashfa." She shakes her head, "I don't know whether or not to deck you right now or not." She runs her hands through her hair.
Ryker doesn't appear concerned. "I didn't know you were close with Mariko, no." Slight, uncontrollable sneer as he forces out the name. "That's all in the distant past for me now." His square jaw tightens some. "She did some unforgiveable stuff to my sister, the only family I had. I fought her out of revenge, and I waged war on the Tandrai because of her." Another sneer.
Yosannah considers, "Yeah. All in the past." She exhales slowly, "Her daughter is infested with one of the same entities that is within me. Are you saying that it was with you for a while? Are we talking about the same thing here?"
Ryker shrugs loosely, "All I can say is I passed something to her daughter, and I recognized it as being familiar. I hadn't even known Mariko was possessed, nor I until after."
Yosannah shakes her head, "I don't think it's the same then. No. Absolutely not. You would know if Death were following with you." She smirks, mostly to herself.
Ryker just grunts, drinking more.
Yosannah regards you, calmly. "Why are you sharing these confidences with me, Ryk."
Ryker's lips twist thoughtfully as he considers the question. Ryker says "In part, on the off chance something I said might help you in solving your own problem."
"And the other part?"
Ryker says "A sense of completeness. I started telling the story - only fair I finished it, really. Besides, very few people know the truth in that particular story, and most of the reasons for me to want it secret are probably no longer a concern. I have a lot of secrets like that. Seems a bit of a shame if I take them all to the grave with me, eh?" Ryker shifts his in his chair. Flicks a look over the room.
Yosannah shrugs, "I suppose so. I feel the need to tell you, however, that I wouldn't betray a confidence. I get the impression that you doubt me in that respect. Part of the reason I parked myself at your table inthe first place. I wanted to tell you that."
Ryker smiles a little, extending out the wrinkles at his lips. He points out, "Often your mouth seems larger than the rest of you."
Yosannah smirks and nods knowingly, "Yes. It *seems* that way, doesn't it. I'm not what you think I am, Ryk. As a shadow, I've leanred that it's much easier to exist in this place when you play the fool."
Ryker mms, in the way a young throat can't. States, "I seem to manage just fine. Without playing the fool."
Yosannah smirks at that, "Yeah, well I'd rather not publicize my recently acquired attributes by putting myself in bad situations if it's all the same to you."
Ryker says "Bad situations. You mean, like if I pulled out my gun and shot a hole in the sign on that table?"
"See, that might stir up unneeded trouble, yes."
Ryker yawns.
Yosannah says "On that note..."
Ryker says "I should probably save it for a time I'm more awake."
"I suppose that would be a good idea. I'll ah... catch up with you later?" Yosannah digs around in her jacket pocket, pulling forth a mish mash of small cards.
Ryker pushes back his chair. Almost placidly, "If you like - Damen can usually get ahold of me."
Yosannah nods at Ryker, standing as he does. She stares at a card in her hand...