May 8, 2003

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Amber

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Trump call...

To the image of Merlin, Yosannah says "Corey..."

The image of Merlin smiles slightly, perched on the edge of his couch, elbows resting on his knees. "Hey," he says.

To the image of Merlin, Yosannah says "I'm looking for a distraction. You up for a nightcap or something?"

The image of Merlin smirks. "Um... Sure. Why don't you come through here and I'll... Uh.... take you out to dinner."

To the image of Merlin, Yosannah hehs and smooths her hair with her hand, "Where? I think I'd need to change. I'm still in my work clothes."

The image of Merlin shrugs his shoulders. "Oh, just some place I used to eat all the time. I'm sure you'll be fine as you are."

To the image of Merlin, Yosannah looks down at her suit, "If you say so..."

The image of Merlin smiles and offers his hand...

Apartment in Berkeley...

Yosannah looks about the room, "Is this where we're having dinner? Nice, Corey." She rolls her eyes.

Merlin exhales. "No. It is not," he says. "I said come through and I would take you out, didn't I?" He smiles again. "We'll go from here whenever you're ready."

Yosannah glances out of the corner of her eyes, first this way, then that, and then shrugs her shoulders, "I guess I'm ready."

Merlin nods and gives her hand a gentle squeeze...

Study -- Ways of Sawall...

Yosannah was holding her breath as evidenced by an abrupt exhale, "Whoa." She examines their surroundings. "Where are we?"

Merlin releases Yosannah's hand again in a different place, without having troubled himself to produce a card. "Sawall" he says. "I didn't want to say anything, but I think some of my family is meeting for dinner tonight. I thought we could drop in."

Yosannah raises a brow and then lets out a short laugh, "You're a funny guy."

Merlin smirks and shrugs his shoulders, then starts across the room. "You'll want to stick close," he says. "It's easy to get lost here."

Yosannah's mouth hangs open slightly. Realizing he is serious she starts after him, "Lost? Okay..."

Sawall Hall -- Ways of Sawall...

Merlin murmurs to Yosannah as the two enter the room. "It was either this or chinese again..."

Despil smiles and nods. "Merlin. Yo."

Sofya nods to Merlin.

Yosannah mutters back, "I like chinese.." She notes Despil and smiles, seemingly relieved at his presence.

Emily gives a brief wave, "Merlin."

Carinah smiles at Merlin's entrance, and someone she does not recognize. "Hello, Merlin," she nods to him from the table.

Merlin smiles and raises a hand in general greeting. "Hello everyone," he says. "I hope we're not too late?"

Emily reassures Merlin, "We haven't started yet."

Yosannah stands quietly beside Merlin, looking over the group.

Carinah looks with some interest at Yosannah's neck. "Ah, yes," she says softly. "We have not started yet. Again, waiting on someone to appear. But drinks would be nice," she again looks, hopes that these words uttered are enough of a magic charm.

Despil asks, "What are you looking for to drink, Carinah?"

Dwight leans, back against the wall, one hand on Sofya's waist, one foot propped behind him. He looks over at Merlin and Yosannah.

Merlin's lips curl into a smile. "Yes, drinks would be very nice."

Merlin glances sideways at Yosannah a moment, then drifts further into the room.

Carinah answers Despil, "The ones that arrive on the little creatures." Hands gesture vaguely. "You know. That sort."

Despil mouths Carinah's last words, and nods, thinking. Finally he says, "I'm going to have a manhattan? Anyone else have orders?"

Yosannah moves as it to follow after Merlin but pauses at Despil's invitation, "If you don't mine, Despil."

Emily says, "I'd love a rum and cherry cola, if there's cola."

Carinah stops looking at Yosannah's *neck*, not collar, and glances at Despil. "Wine. Dark. Heavy. Where *is* he?" Frantic, just a bit. "Everyone, sit, sit!" she nearly yelps.

Emily heads to the table on Carinah's orders.

Despil nods to Carinah and Emily and replies to Yosannah, "Of course not, you're a guest."

Merlin calls over, "I'd kill for a beer right now." He nudges out a chair for Yosannah and asks, "Who are we waiting on?"

Despil replies to Merlin, "What sort of beer?"

Merlin smiles at Despil. "Surprise me. Just nothing domestic, okay?"

Dwight tells Sofya, "Hop to, huh? The boss says sit."

Emily asks, unsure, "Is Mirth regent of Chaos again yet?"

Carinah pulls out a chair for herself but hovers instead. Caught off-guard by Emily's question, she lets out a long breath and focuses on the woman. Says nothing.

Sofya grins and takes a step and moves towards the table.

Merlin's lips purse faintly, and he lowers himself into a chair. He leans over to whisper something to Yosannah.

Despil pulls in a tray with drinks on it. He says to Merlin, "I have to guess about where domestic is, but certainly."

Dwight adjusts the hang of his jacket, then steps after Sofya. "Ashtray... ashtray..." he murmurs, looking for one.

Emily says, apologetically, "Oh I meant... I wasn't sure, and if he was, it would explain why he was late."

Merlin whispers "I was hoping if we showed up late they'd be all settled in and acting normal by now..."

Yosannah nods at Merlin with a soft smile.

Merlin catches Carinah's glance and trails off. He murmurs a quick, "Guess not" out the corner of his mouth.

Emily's silence now changes its character from comfortable to vague and half-unsure, at least for a few minutes.

Sofya murmurs at Dwight, "Don't those things cause cancer?" She looks amused and is obviously teasing him.

Dwight licks the tip of his finger, then taps out the cherry of his cigarette. He tells Sofya, "Maybe. For somebody."

Carinah looks from Merlin to Yosannah and back again. "Merlin ... ?"

Yosannah looks to Merlin as well, her brow raised and a smirk playing on her lips. She nudges him.

Merlin blinks and looks from Carinah to Yosannah. Then back. Then back again. The nudge clues him in. "Oh, sorry," he says. "Everyone, this is Yosannah."

Emily offers Yosannah, "I'm Emily, Merlin's great-great-something-niece. Good to meet you."

Yosannah's hands are clasped together but she pulls her fingers apart and lifts one hand slightly in greeting, "Hi." She nods at Emily, "Forgive me if I have a difficult time remembering all your names right away."

Emily smiles a little, "No problem." Then she lapses back into her silence, glancign elsewhere calmly.

Carinah smiles, moving her hands together and forward in a small circle as she bows her head. "Welcome, Yosannah. I am Lha Tschal-je Carinah." She doesn't think to explain her relation to anyone, and is still hovering at the foot of the table.

Sofya slips into a chair.

Despil waves to Yosannah and says, "I'm Despil."

Yosannah mouths the woman's name as if in effort to try and remember it as Despil announces himself. She looks up and inclines her head, "Of course you are. Pleasure."

Dwight puts his spent cigarette into his pocket, then sits down next to Sofya. To Merlin and Yosannah alike, he says, "Dwight Spade."

Yosannah repeats that as well, "Mr. Spade." She nods once, "Hello."

Sofya nods to Yosannah, "Sofya."

Mirth walks out from behind the pillar in the alcove.

Merlin inclines his head towards Dwight and leans back in his chair, his job done.

Dwight says "You're Merlin, huh?"

Emily looks surprised, "you two haven't met?"

Yosannah nods at Sofya and smiles lightly.

Mirth murmurs, "Hello all."

Mirth steps in from the study.

Emily turns at Mirth's voice, and smiles to see him.

Merlin smiles and nods his head. "That's me, yeah."

Carinah seems to exhale a breath she had been holding for several years.

Sofya says "Mirth."

Yosannah looks to Despil at the mention of Mirth's name, faint recognition on her face.

Dwight gives a casual nod to Merlin. "What I hear, we got a lot in common, you and me."

Mirth heads over towards the table.

Carinah stands at the foot of the table, knuckles white with holding the back of her chair. She watches Mirth as he approaches, something relaxing in her eyes.

Merlin's brows lift. "Is that so?" he asks. "I'd like to hear about that."

Emily greets Mirth with a, "Good to see you."

Dwight says "Another time, maybe." He looks to Mirth, smiling. "Hey."

Despil nods to Mirth and says, "Your Grace."

Mirth smiles at Carinah as he nears her, looking her over.

Merlin looks to Mirth and gives him a smile and a nod of his head.

Mirth inquires, "How is everyone?"

Dwight moves his hand smoothly across a horizontal plane. "Smooth sailing."

Sofya smiles, "Very well, Your Grace."

Emily says, "I'm good, thank you, Your Grace. Jean apologizes, he'll be late."

Carinah's mouth attempts *not* to smile, lips atwitch, but gives way eventually. "You are late," she says lightly.

Mirth says to Carinah, sounding a little hopeful, "I got lost?"

Mirth comments to Emily, "He keeps good comapny."

Emily smiles easily at that.

Sofya murmurs to Dwight.

Carinah narrows her eyes at Mirth, smile sharp. She returns, "That is *my* excuse."

Mirth snaps, "You're right. I'll have to get more creative."

Emily suggests to Mirth, helpfully, "I'm pretty sure he's busy with the military."

Mirth leans to give Carinah a peck.

Despil says, "Perhaps he was late because you got lost, Carinah."

Yosannah converses quietly with Merlin, "Are you sure I belong at this thing?"

Merlin whispers "I'm not even sure I belong at this thing."

Dwight murmurs a reply to Sofya.

A last reserve of Carinah's worry melts with Mirth's kiss. "Sit," she suggests quietly, gesturing him to the head of the table. "And meet Merlin's guest."

Mirth smiles, "That sounds like an excellent idea." He heads to the other end of the table, and takes his spot.

Mirth flicks his cloak out of the way as he settles to sit.

Sofya arches an eyebrow at Dwight, "Something to that effect."

Despil takes a seat at the table as well.

Carinah seats herself after Mirth sits.

Dwight gives a playfully smug smile.

Yosannah nudges Merlin again.

Mirth says "So Merlin, I hear you've got a guest we need to interrogate."

A few serving demons skitter over, bringing wine to the table.

Sofya mrphs slightly.

Emily takes her wine but still seems to be finishing her rum mixture from earlier.

As the demons arrive at the table, Yosannah startles lightly and mutters under her breath, ".. oh, Jesus."

Mirth grins sidelong at Dwight, suddenly. He comments to Dwight, "There that is again."

Emily glances down the table sideways, past Sofya, towards her brother.

After wine is dropped off, more demons clickclack on their claws over to the table, bringing an appetizer of lightly marinated zucchini salad.

Dwight says "Somebody told me he's even got a holiday."

Sofya glances at Dwight again.

Carinah seems to be almost used to the demons these days, accepting a second glass of wine before even touching her first.

Mirth chuckles at Dwight, "I think I heard that too."

Merlin says "Mirth, this is Yosannah. Yosannah, this is Mirth, RimDuke Sawall."

Sofya sits back in her chair. She looks to Dwight and then Mirth again.

Yosannahhad been resting her hand over her heart, she lowers it now and nods at the man, "Pleasure to meet you."

Mirth smiles at Yosannah, "It's a pleasure to meet one of my Uncle's.. friends?" He tilts his head.

Dwight tells Sofya, "I'll explain later."

Yosannah nods once at Mirth's question, leaving any further explaination to Merlin.

Merlin does not offer further explaination.

Carinah eyewidens suddenly and winces. "O dear," she says, and offers no context, as she looks around, particularly at possible entrances.

Sofya smiles at Dwight, "Indeed."

Mirth blinks at Carinah while keeping half of his attention on Merlin and Yosannah, "And where are you from, Yosannah."

Emily finishes her drink down to the cherry, and sets it aside.

Mirth munches his salad.

Yosannah considers this question for a moment, "Um. " She looks at Despil, perhaps as a form of respite, but turns back to Mirth, "The same shadow where Cor... Merlin went to school. But I make my home in Elbridge now. I don't suppose you have heard of it."

Carinah sips her wine, held in one hand, as the other hand surreptitiously creeps over to some tableware and starts sliding it from the middle of the table, towards the edges.

Merlin comments to Carinah. "I wouldn't worry, Jurt never strikes in the same place twice."

Mirth says "That doesn't ring a bell, no. I've known a few people that spend some time in the shadow Merlin went to school in, though."

Emily asks, curiously, "What shadow is that?"

Despil nods to Yosannah and says, "California, isn't it?"

Sofya begins to pick at her food.

Yosannah nods at Emily and Despil, "Yes, though in a place... a state called New York to be exact."

Carinah clears her throat, setting her wine down as she glances at Merlin. Helping herself to some salad, she mentions, "The Big Apple."

Mirth sips at his wine.

Yosannah smiles at Carinah and offers, "Well, no. Actually, that's New York City . I'm not from the city itself."

Mirth asks Yosannah, "Did you go to school with Merlin? I've got a friend who did. Though I haven't seen him in *quite* a long time."

Dwight slouches in his chair, lounging. Not eating. Just listening.

Yosannah shakes her head, not having had the opportunity to touch her food, it sits before her, "Um, no. I didn't go to Berkeley, no. Cornell. I went to Cornell. I'm a lawyer." She seems to be having some difficulty with the questions.

Emily listens with evident interest.

Carinah answers Yosannah, "I have a book about the Big Apple." She seems inordinately fond of saying this phrase. "Had a book. I left it." She sips some wine as her eyes lower.

Merlin leans back in his chair with his glass, more content to listen, even if he can hear his own name popping up from time to time.

Yosannah looks over her shoulder at Merlin as he sits quietly beside her.

Mirth mnches more and asides to Dwight, "You should eat your greens, they're good for you, I hear." He looks curiously at Carinah.

Despil says to Yosannah, "I taught at Princeton for a number of years."

Dwight says "I had lunch just before I got here. Blew the time-differential. Thought I'd have a few hours before dinnertime."

Emily asks, curiously, "Are these places all from the same shadow?"

Yosannah smiles at Despil, "Yes, I think I knew that." She turns her head to Emily, "Yes."

Carinah comments to Dwight, "You should learn to make yourself un-full. Can you do that? Since you can do other things."

Mirth ahs at Dwight, then asks Carinah, "Do you have things that you would like to retrieve?"

Despil replies, "The same geography, at least."

Emily nods to Despil.

Dwight says "There's a few things I could do, Cari, but none of them are dinner table conversation."

Mirth says to Emily, "A lot of Amberites in particular go there. That concentration makes that shadow a little more.. sticky. Drowns out the neighbors, a bit."

Carinah smiles politely at Mirth, eyes squinting briefly as she pushes his question aside for now.

Sofya nods to Mirth, "Father has discussed that."

Carinah wrinkles her nose at Dwight, sticking her tongue out at him as she lifts her second wineglass.

Mirth glances back at Carinah, going 'hmm'.

Emily asks, "The shadow's called California?"

Mirth smiles.

Dwight smiles. "You asked."

Despil replies, "California is the place where Berkeley is, where Merlin went to school."

Yosannah reaches for her wine glass, seemingly happy that the interrogation has ended.

Emily nods, "And that's where New York is, too? Oh, trump. That must be Jean." Emily puts her fork down and turns aside a little.

Demons clickclack out again, clearing away touched and untouched salad plates. They refresh wine, then deposit frutti del mar and linguini con vongole in front of each of the guests save the empty seat beside Emily, which gets some strips of raw meat.

Sofya smiles and picks at her linguini.

Jean appears, grasping Emily's hand.

Merlin raises his glass to his lips, shooting Yosannah a brief apologetic smile before sipping.

Despil starts in the linguini next.

Emily rises from her seat just long enough for Jean to step through, squeezes his hand a little, then lets go. "Hi, Hon. You know everyone, I think, except forYosannah..."

Carinah smiles at Jean's appearance.

Mirth tips his head to Jean.

The demon depositing the plate of raw strips of meat at the place beside Emily's skitters away when Jean appears.

Emily nods to the woman as she takes her place, and gives the introduction, "Jean Hendrake, Lord-General of Hendrake."

Yosannah raises her hand in a wave at Jean.

A smallish demon pitterpatters over to Carinah's side and hisses something to her, low.

Jean appears, holding Emily's hand, his other sliding a card away into a pocket of his field uniform. To Mirth, he gives a nod accompanied by a slight bow, heels together for a moment. "Lord Sawall," he rumbles, in greeting. Then to Yosannah his regard shifts, unblinking eyes on her for a time. Another nod replies to her wave, and he takes a seat by Emily.

Despil nods to Jean as well.

Dwight points at Jean with his index and middle finger, then parts them, turning his hand to make a sideways peace sign.

Mirth smiles, "Jean."

Jean offers a smile to Dwight, and another inclination of his head to Despil as well.

Carinah was just about to start in on her food when the demon interrupts her. She nods to it and sets down her fork. "I apologize," she says to the table gently. "I must excuse myself."

Sofya looks up at Carinah, "Is everything alright?"

Mirth gets an abstract look for a moment or two then says, "Ah.. yes." He smiles at Carinah, "We'll see you later, love."

Emily tells Carinah, "It's a lovely dinner. Hope everything's okay."

Carinah rises from the table, smiling. "O, yes, Sofya. I just forgot it was time for services." She nods to everyone, especially to Yosannah, saying, "It was good to meet you. I hope you come back soon."

"Thank you."

Despil nods to Carinah and stands briefly. "Thank you for putting this together, my lady." He re-takes his seat.

Carinah crosses to Mirth and kisses his cheek before departing. She smiles at Despil. "As always, it is my pleasure to see everyone together. The family."

Mirth rises as Carinah does to say, "Thank you for helping with this." He smiles, then sits back down as she goes.

Jean moves to rise for a moment, as Carinah does, then returns to the seat beside Emily as she departs.

Yosannah holds her wine glass with both hands as she watches Despil's gesture to ward the woman. She smiles, shaking her head lightly.

Carinah bows to all with hands and head. Carinah moves forward and vanishes, leaving behind a rapidly fading afterimage.

Mirth says to Yosannah, a little abruptly, "So, you're a lawyer?"

Yosannah , fork in one hand, spoon in the other, attempts to twirl the linguini about her fork. She pauses, mid-effort, "Yes. A prosecutor actually." She smiles at Mirth as she nods.

Mirth says "Ah, for a government?"

Yosannah bites at her lower lip and replies simply, "Yes."

Jean extrudes an ebon claw from the tip of one finger, using it to spear a slice of the raw meat upon his plate, delivering it to his mouth for contemplative chewing. He continues to watch Yosannah, evenly.

Sofya twirls her linguini and continues to pick at her food.

Mirth says "Do you like it?" Mirth munches on a clam.

Merlin tosses back the remainder of his wine, glancing silently between Yosannah and Mirth.

Emily eats with a healthy appetite, though not without a certain daintiness.

Dwight picks up one noodle, tipping his head back, dangling it into his mouth."

Yosannah's gaze slides to Jean and his dinner for a brief moment before responding to Mirth, "Yes. It's good work." She glances at Merlin as she adds, "And I do work for Merlin from time to time. He has me on retainer."

Mirth ahs, and smiles. Mirth says a bit obliquely, "That's good."

Merlin lets out a laugh at that, shaking his head slightly.

Mirth smiles sidelong to Merlin.

Emily comments, "It's sort of surprising there aren't more legal experts around the Courts.

Despil smiles and nods. "Congratulations, Merle."

Yosannah adds, "He pays very well. I can't complain."

Dwight says "In money?"

Mirth says to Emily, "The Ministry of Justice is a tad.." He gestures. "Ad hoc."

Mirth doesn't seem entirely happy with his turn of phrase.

Yosannah pays little attention to Dwight's comment, rather, she inclines her head to Mirth, "Oh? How so?"

Emily asks, "Who is the Minister of Justice? I mean, is it still..." she pauses to give the name its correct pronunciation, "Tkaldinask?"

Mirth says to Yosannah, "It is what proactive isn't."

Yosannah offers, flatly, "That is unfortunate."

Mirth hmms to Yosannah. "It tends to lead to justice sorting itself out."

Mirth nods to Emily, "Indeed."

Jean speaks to Yosannah, "Justice itself tends to be rather - ad hoc here."

Mirth nods to Jean, "Exactly."

Dwight wipes his fingers on a napkin. "I think that's a sign for me to dip." He tosses the napkin over his plate, pushing back his chair.

Sofya looks up at Dwight, "Shall I join you?"

Mirth asks Dwight, "Dip?"

Jean glances to Dwight, and gives the man a nod as he rises.

Emily says, a little sorry, "You're going, Hon?"

Dwight says "Dip. Skeedaddle. Exit stage left, even."

Dwight tells Sofya, "If you want, sure."

Emily nods at that, "See you soon, I hope."

Mirth says "Ah, I thought you were about to go for a swim. Take care, Dwight."

Sofya stands and holds out her hand to Dwight.

Merlin frowns slightly. "I guess I should be 'dipping' as well."

Emily amends that to, "Both of you."

Mirth smiles, "Sofya."

Sofya smiles, "Then, I shall go as well. Good sky, all."

Sofya says "Mirth."

Dwight plucks a card from his pocket. "I've been sniffing around Amber's circle-thingie, Em. Give me a call."

Emily murmurs, "I will."

Sofya stands and holds out her hand to Dwight.

Yosannah sets her wineglass on the table and looks to Merlin.

Dwight glances to Mirth, then takes Sofya's hand. He lifts his card.

Merlin nods his head slightly at Yosannah and slides his chair back.

Emily bids Merlin and his guest, "Good turnings."

Merlin smiles and raises a hand in farewell. "It's been a pleasure, folks."

Yosannah takes her cue from Merlin. To Mirth she offers, "Thank you, sir. For your hospitality." To Despil, Yosannah offers a knowing nod.

Mirth smiles at Merlin, "It was nice seeing you again, Merlin. Serpent guard you both."

Sofya nods a goodbye.

Mirth tips to Yosannah, "Pleased to have met you."

Jean nods once to Merlin, then Yosannah.

Merlin offers his hand to Yosannah.

Dwight moves forward and vanishes, leaving behind a rapidly fading afterimage.

Yosannah slides her hand into Merlin's, clasping it tightly...

Apartment in Berkeley...

Yosannah inhales deeply and exhales slowly, "Whew."

Merlin smiles, releasing Yosannah's hand and collapsing onto the couch. "Sorry about that," he murmurs.

Yosannah shakes her head and offers, perhaps reassuringly, "It was fine."

Merlin's head rolls back and his eyes close. "You should meet my other family."

Yosannah sits on the edge of the couch and looks down at him, "I've met most of them already I think. At one point or another. Family is family, you know." She rests a hand on his arm, "But. You can't deny. I was good tonight." She winks.

Merlin smiles slightly. "The best," he says.

"I'm curious though."

Merlin opens one eye.

Yosannah slides out of her jacket, first one arm and then the other. She studies his face, "Why did you bring me there?" She bites at her lip, "Did you really want for me to meet those people, or was I along to run interference, Corey."

Merlin shrugs his shoulders slightly. "Maybe a little of column A, a little of column B." He exhales a sigh. "I guess I just figured it would be something different, at the very least."

Yosannah rests her elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands, "Yeah." After a moment, she reaches a hand up to his face and runs her fingers along his jawline, "You seem tired. You should sleep." She looks about the living room, "But maybe in your bed for once."

Merlin mumbles something faint, inaudible, incoherent. The sort of mumbling one makes when one is already asleep.

Yosannah sighs lightly, leans forward and kisses his forehead, "Goodnight," she whispers. She stands, tosses her jacket over the endtable and heads into the kitchen to make a pot of coffee.