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May 6, 2003
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Cathedral of the Church of the
Serpent...
Rhiannon arrives near the wall, letting
her trump slip inside of a book she's holding. She glances
about.
Yosannah's gaze seems focused on her
hands as if in deep thought. If she is aware of Rhiannon, she does
not show it.
Rhiannon notices Yosannah and lifts hand
to greet her, but realizes soon enough that it's hardly proper to
interrupt people's prayers like that and freezes the greeting before
her hands fold again around the book. She finds herself a seat and
lowers her head-praying, napping, thinking, daydreaming...who
knows.
After a long moment, Yosannah lifts her
head with a sigh and a soft inaudible whisper. She begins to slide
out of the pew, first making a gesture with her hand that begins at
her forehead and ends at her right shoulder. She stands.
Rhiannon hears the motion and looks up.
She offers a nod with a smile to the lady.
Yosannah notes the woman and offers a nod
of her own though her expression is fairly emplty. "Hello. I didn't
realize there was anyone else here." Her voice echoes lightly
throughout the room.
Rhiannon smiles "Turnings. I'm glad my
presence did not disturb you in your toughts."
There is a glint of kindess in Yosannah's
eyes, "Thoughtful of you." She holds out her hand, "Yo."
Rhiannon inclines her head and accepts
the offered hand "Rhiannon, if too long, just Rhi."
Yosannah studies the woman as their hands
clasp, "Are you a student here... or perhaps an acolyte?"
Rhiannon smiles "Well, I'm not an
acolyte, yet."
Yosannah releases the woman's hand and
nods in understanding, "I see. I've only recently made my way in
these halls." She looks back toward the dias and the candles
scattered upon it, "Comforting somehow." She looks back toward the
woman, "But I suppose you already know that."
Rhiannon shrugs lightly "It was scary
first time I was here. Now..." she glances about "It's just
beautiful. And I should be used to shrines and holy places..." she
smiles.
Yosannah raises a brow, "Scary? How so, I
wonder."
Rhiannon hmms "Too...person can feel so
hopelessly small here..."
Yosannah considers, "I would think one
would feel a sense of connectedness." She inclines her head
slightly.
Rhiannon nods, just a bit, "First I stood
in awe and then I begun to feel...inner peace."she glances around
"Places where you can hear your soul are so rare."
Selene arrives from the Cathedral
itself.
Yosannah smiles at that, seemingly
understanding, "Exactly..." She pauses, mid-sentence at Selene's
arrival.
Selene walks in acting if she owned the
place and stops seeing Yosannah.
Rhiannon also notices Selene and
nods.
The two women are located at the back of
the Cathedral. Rhiannon is sitting in a pew and Yosannah stands at
its edge. Yosannah's gaze follows Rhiannon's to Selene.
Selene says "Hello Rhiannon, and
greetness to you as well Yosannah."
Yosannah slides her right hand in the
pocket of her suit jacket, casually. She offers a light nod to
Selene.
Selene mutters softly, "Yo I
am...sorry."
Yosannah furrows her brow and regards
Selene, "What is it, Sel?"
Selene says "I..was rude...and
have...done what...was....requested."
Yosannah exhales, "Sel, perhaps we should
talk of this privately." She turns to Rhiannon with a smile, "With
all due respect." And then back to Selene, "Right now may not be a
good time."
Selene comments to Rhiannon, "The Prelate
Ada-Shazandra has told others Lady Yosannah is to be treated like a
guest."
Rhiannon smiles and nods "I
understand."
Yosannah Inquires of Selene, "You talked
to her then. I hope that put your mind at ease, Sel."
Selene doesn't seem happy, "My opinions
do not matter on this subject matter, since you were welcomed by one
of my equal rank, I have no choice but to respect it."
Yosannah senses that Selene seems to be
putting on a show for Rhiannon. She nods at that, "Fair enough. Thank
you."
Rhiannon stays out of the conversation,
sitting in a pew and looking at her hands folded upon the book in her
lap.
Selene says "Later on Ms. Yosannah we
need to speak alone."
"I have no means to reach you, Sel.
Suggestions?"
Selene says "Let's just say, we will meet
soon as fate has written it."
Yosannah strokes the bracelet at her
wrist, absent-mindedly, "Of course."
Rhiannon offers "I could leave if you
need privacy."
Selene shakes her head to Rhiannon, "No
you two were talking before I came in, I shall leave you two
alone."
"Please, that is quite all right. I have
a few things to attend to either way. Later then, Sel." She turns to
Rhiannon and holds out her hand to the woman again, "Well met."
Rhiannon nods and shakes the hand
"Indeed. Good turnings."
Selene nods once to Yosannah and speaks
softly to her,"Feel as if something is wrong, as if you must be doing
something?"
Yosannah's gaze meets Selene's. It is a
knowing look - something stiring behind it, "Later." She pulls forth
a tarot from her jacket and focuses her attention on it...
A trump call in the
evening...
The image of Despil says
"Yosannah. It's Despil."
To the image of Despil, Yosannah tugs at
her lower lip with her teeth. She seems relieved and she exhales as
if she had been holding her breath, "I see that."
The image of Despil nods to you and asks,
"How can I help?"
To the image of Despil, Yosannah nods
lightly, "Can I ... can you come here or...?"
The image of Despil says "Yes, I can, or
you can. Where are you?"
To the image of Despil, Yosannah licks
her lips, "Elbridge. Maybe where you are might be better."
The image of Despil says "I'm in my
quarters in Sawall."
The image of Despil offers to pull her
through...
Despil's Chambers...
A pleasant and warm room,
even if a little large. The walls of the room are dark wood and
brass. Plush rugs cover wood floors, cushiony underfoot. The rooms
furnishings are carefully set about the room, each placed with a
precise eye. The furnishings are dominated by two items in
particular, the four-poster bed which is draped in dark green silk;
and the large desk of mahogany with a matching and padded wooden
chair. Along one wall is a large wardrobe and two nightstands, one to
either side of the bed. Also found in the room are a loveseat and two
comfortable, padded chairs. All about the room are tall bookshelves.
So many, that one might mistake this for a library of sorts, were it
lacking a bed. Set across from the bed is a fireplace set in deep
green marble. Before the fireplace is carefully laid a large fur of
white, which appears quite soft. All of this is lit by a small
chandelier hanging from above, which gives off a gentle magical
light.
Despil says, "You look worried, what's
the problem?" He actually looks not entirely focused for a bit,
studying you, and even a bit to the side.
Yosannah makes an effort to follow his
gaze but answers, "I'm not sure, and that's the problem. And I don't
mean to involve you"
Despil nods and says, "Tell me what you
are wondering about, then."
Yosannah nods, "Remember what I showed
you that night in the bar. You, me and your brother."
Despil nods and says, "Yes, I
remember."
Yosannah talks with her hands, gesturing
as she speaks, "Something is wrong. Like a growing threat in the back
of my mind. When you helped me connect with Ada,I thought I just
needed some guidance to work through things." She swallows, "But the
feeling has gotten worse. I feel like I'm going out of my
mind."
Despil says, "Have a seat if you like.
Want me to pour you something? Tell me more."
Yosannah nods and looks about the room,
soaking it in for the first time, "Please." She moves to sit in the
loveseat, "I'm so sorry for involving you in this, I truly
am."
Despil heads to the bar and pours two
scotches. He says, "Not a problem."
Yosannah watches him for a moment, "You
don't believe me, do you. About what I showed you." She runs her hand
over her hair and continues to bite at her lip.
Despil hands her a drink and says, "I'm
keeping an open mind about it."
Yosannah reaches for the glass, "Thank
you. I was hoping you'd say that," she lifts the glass to her lips,
"We haven't known each other that long. My thought is that you
wouldn't have any preconceived notions about my situation." She
drinks deeply and then mutters, "Of course, the flip side of that is
you could tell me to go to hell."
Despil smiles a bit. "It's not that nice
a place."
Yosannah breathes in slowly and then
exhales, "Precisely the point."
Despil says "What -do- you feel is wrong
with you?"
Yosannah tilts her head back and finishes
off the drink, "It's not so much that something is wrong. It's a
persistant urgency. A need to seek out ..." She pauses as if not sure
how to continue, "something." She adds, "I keep finding myself drawn
to the Courts. I spent the night in the Cathedral just waiting. And
nothing came."
Despil pours you some more and says, "I'm
not surprised."
Yosannah watches as the liquid flows into
her glass, "What do you mean?" Her voice is a soft
whisper.
Despil says "I'm catty when it comes to
the church."
Yosannah looks up at him, "I don't
understand."
Despil replies, "I view the church as a
political organization."
Yosannah nods, "I see." She rocks the
glass, swirling the liquid therein, "I'm not sure why I share this
with you except that something is happening that I -don't- understand
and it scares me."
Despil says, "There is something that is
part of you, yes. I can see it."
Yosannah draws back. It is a slight
gesture and she looks down at her person as she does so, "You can see
it..."
Despil nods and says, "-I- can, but I
don't think it's easy at all."
The glass in her hand shakes lightly and
she is forced to set it down. "Despil, I just found out that Death
was -taken- from its avatar by some unknown individual. Taken. I
don't know how that's possible, but if this 'individual' is what I'm
being drawn to, and he or she takes Pestilence, what will happen to
me."
Despil says, "I can't say. It could be
good or bad for you. I wouldn't think it could be taken from you,
though."
Yosannah runs her fingers over the
bracelet at her wrist, "What makes you say that?"
Despil says "It seems that you and
whatever else that is are very tightly joined."
Yosannah claps her fingers together and
nods, "Right." She ponders that for a moment, "Unless this
feeling..." She lowers her head muttering, "What if, what if..."
Despil says "What happened to
Death?"
Yosannah eyes her drink, "The story I
coaxed from Nash Cragvale was that Death was drawn somewhere and that
a stranger somehow took Death from its avatar." She sighs, "I
couldn't force much more then that out of Nash. And he couldn't tell
me where the avatar is now either." She shrugs, "I don't understand
what's going on."
Despil drinks some more and says, "What
if Nash Cragvale is lying or simply mistaken?"
Yosannah considers, "Lying? Not possible
- that I am certain of. Mistaken aboutt what he thinks he saw?
Possible. Though, I spoke with an old aquaintance of Famine's avatar
early tonight. And this person confirmed that Famine is having the
same feelings of urgency as I." She lets a smirk escape her lips, "I
suppose it's quite possible that everyone is conspiring to drive me
crazy. But I'm not so egotistical that I believe that."
Despil smiles and says, "I seem to have
been let out of this conspiracy. I'm disappointed."
Yosannah is obviously warmed by his
smile, "Disappointed that you won't have the opportunity to push me
to the point of insanity? Poor you."
Despil says, "Well, more disappointed
that I'm not being trusted with the secret."
Yosannah smiles lightly, "I'd think you
were trusted with quite a bit if information this evening. You're
never satisfied, are you."
Despil laughs and says,
"Never."
After a long moment, "Tell me
something."
Despil says "What do you want to be
told?"
Yosannah smiles, "Something to distract
me. Tell me... Your parents. Tell me about them."
Despil says "My father -- Gramble -- is
dead. He was one of the great art collectors of Sawall. Good fellow.
I liked him. He had a thing for strong women." He drinks some more
and says, "My mother -- well, she's a strong woman. Dara. She's still
around, and lots of people have heard of her."
Yosannah nods, "Including me. I met her
once. Well, actually, we were never formally introduced. She and your
brother got into a trist a few years back that I'd rather I wasn't
witness to." She smiles at the thought.
Despil hmmms. "Which brother?
Merlin?"
Yosannah nods, "Yes. And while we're on
that topic... how many siblings -do- you have."
Despil says "Three brothers. Mandor,
Merlin, and Jurt. One sister, Faiel."
Yosannah inquires, "Are you the
youngest?"
Despil shakes his head. "Jurt
is."
Yosannah smiles at that, "Ahh. Actually,
that makes sense." And then, "Kids?"
Despil nods and says, "I have --" a short
pause and then, "two. Sons. Both dead. Many grand descendents and
more."
Yosannah hmms, "I'm sorry to hear
that."
Despil shrugs. "It happens. With one of
them, it was a relief."
Yosannah raises a brow at that, "Oh?" She
doesn't press further, perhaps waiting to see if he wants to
expand.
Despil pauses for a second and then says,
"Ishmael. He was a rotter. However, my -decent- descendents come from
his line, including Mirth."
Yosannah nods, "What of their
mother?"
Despil says, "Erisa." He twitches his
lips and says, "She died on the Logrus. Broke my heart."
Yosannah smiles softly at him, "You're a
tragic character, Despil. I had no idea."
Despil smiles back and says, "Thank you,
I think."
Yosannah leans back into the couch, "Oh,
but you'll be quite a catch for someone someday, I'm
sure."
Despil grins. "I'll make some gal a good
little husband, I'm sure."
Yosannah stretches as she smirks,
"Absolutely." She is more at ease then earlier in their conversation.
She covers her mouth with her hand in effort to stifle a
yawn.
Despil laughs and says, "Now I just have
to find such a gal."
Yosannah chuckles, "I"m sure there are
plenty shadows of me out there to go around." She rolls her
eyes.
Despil tsks and says, "My shadows can
settle for them."
Yosannah smiles at that without comment.
"Anyway. I don't suppose you'd mind if I borrowed your couch here...
I'm not so comfortable going back to Elbridge, and it's getting
late."
Despil shakes his head. "I don't mind,
no."
Yosannah scratches lightly at her neck,
"Thank you. Again. You're a good man, Despil."
Despil smiles back. "You're welcome, and
thank you, Yo."
"For what?"
Despil says "For the compliment. If you
want, I can be all domestic and get you a robe and a
toothbrush."
Yosannah rests her head against the back
of the couch, closes her eyes and mutters, "That would be great,
honey. Don't forget to let the dog out."
Despil laughs and says, "Of course not."
He gets her a blanket, and a robe, and also a toothbrush.