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November 26, 2000 |
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The World's End Bar...
Riva looks up at Yosannah, one hand under the table as she talks to her tablemate. "Hello Yo. Damen left, don't know where he went."
Yosannah crosses her arms, "He did?" She tilts her head in a weak effort to see under the table, "Well, ah, do you remember how long ago?"
Vassago's hands are folded into his lap, he has something in them but it cannot be seen.
Caine shifts his gaze across the room, settling momentarily on Indrayl. He shows a vague nod, then rises.
Riva says "Nope. Sorry Yo, but I'm more likely to put a blade between his shoulder blades then really care what he does."
Damen appears, laughing. He slides a trump up his sleeve. Damen raises an eyebrow, "What'd I miss?"
Yosannah turns, arms crossed as she stands before Riva's Table, "Ah, not much. Riva was just saying how much she has missed you."
Edwin appears suddenly.
Yosannah smiles as Edwin appears.
Damen smirks, "Riva mistakes complacency for boredom."
Riva looks at Damen and makes a half-hearted attempt at Doe-eyes in Damen's direction. "I'm lost without you."
Yosannah laughs at Riva's words and then quickly covers her mouth with her hand.
Riva sheaths her dagger and looks at the spot where Caine dissapeared, sulking, "Damn."
Edwin smiles faintly as he sees Yosannah. He glances around.
Damen offers his hand to Yo, "Let's find a table."
Yosannah takes Damen's hand, "But Damen..."
Edwin moves towards the bar in even, measured steps.
She whispers, "But your brother is here. Don't you want to say hi?" to Damen.
Riva smirks at Damen, then winks at Yo and turns her attention back to her drink.
Yosannah motions toward Edwin as she talks with Damen.
Damen fehs, "He's no brother of mine." He then moves to a selected table.
Edwin sits down at the bar.
Yosannah follows Damen, "Well, ah, what do you want. I'll go get it." She pauses and changes direction, heading for the bar. She spins in mid stride, "Dr. Pepper?"
Damen answers, "Absinthe."
Yosannah mouths the word silently, 'absinthe'. And then the word, 'yuck'. "Ah, sure. Straight up or what?"
Edwin leans across the bar and speaks quietly with the bartender, for which he receives a mug of Amber colored frothy liquid.
Damen chuckles, "The bartender will give you the proper accessories."
Yosannah rolls her eyes and slids up next to the bar beside Edwin.
At the bar, Edwin says "Hey, what's up?"
Yosannah leans across the bar and tugs on the bartender's shirt. Yosannah answers without looking at Edwin. "He won't talk to you. In fact, he has given me very specific instructions that I shouldn't talk to you either."
Edwin says "I'm sorry." Edwin sips his ale.
Yosannah shrugs and nods at the bartender, "Absinthe." The bartender says something,, and then Yo replies, "I don't know. he said you'd know." Yosannah says "This is so silly. Part of me thinks he has a legit beef though, you know."
Edwin says "This all really has to do with our dad. I'm mad at him for leaving, myself. Does that give Damen the right to take it out on me? Or threaten to destroy Kashfa?"
Yosannah says "I don't know. I'm just a stupid shadow." Yosannah smirks coyly.
Edwin snorts."You ever hear of a woman named Jasra?"
Yosannah looks back at Damen and shrugs, motioning to the bartender.
Edwin says "Or Julia?"
Yosannah says "Yeah, yeah."
Edwin shrugs, minimally. Yosannah says "Have you ever heard of Pestilence." She makes a face as if to say, 'duh'. "That's not the point. I was being sarcastic."
Edwin smiles a little, "Must not have picked up on it." Edwin says "I'm glad to see you aren't letting him run your life completely."
Yosannah turns now to face Edwin. "Why would you even think that?"
Edwin says "Because that's what it seems like he's asking for."
Yosannah says "Don't you think that's personal. Regardless?"
Edwin says "Everything is personal, when you get down to it."
Damen waits patiently, his face impassive.
Yosannah shakes her head at something. Obviously annoyed. Her Absynthe finally arrives. She then orders hot tea for herself. Yosannah says "Well, you didn't asnwer my question, Eddy."
Edwin says "Which one?"
Yosannah says "What do you suggest I do?"
Edwin sighs. "I don't know. I hope you are happy with your choice to marry him."
Yosannah smirks, "Well, that sounded genuine."
Edwin says "I'm serious. But I don't think I could marry a sulking maniac who threatens to kill people and destroy things when they don't go his way." Edwin rubs at his eyes, looking tired.
Syrissa says, wryly, "Not planning to marry within Damen's entire extended family, are you?"
Edwin says "I don't plan to marry at all."
Jasra appears suddenly.
Damen nods a greeting as he spies Jasra.
Jasra says "Damen."
Riva winces as she notes Jasra.
At the bar, Edwin says "All I ask... you see things from this perspective. Try and put yourself in my shoes."
Jasra smiles as if pleased.
Edwin says "I never wanted to be heir to Kashfa's crown."
Yosannah says "But you stil have it. And you're talking about my fiance like he's..." Her voice trails off.
Damen says "Always a pleasure to see you,
grandmother. I trust you are well."
At the bar, Edwin says "I never wanted
any of this. I did it because Luke asked. And now... I'm in the
middle of all this, and Damen wants to kill me."
Jasra says "Well enough. I noticed that
our meeting date and time is missing from my day planner, Damen.
Perhaps we should correct that."
At the bar, Edwin says "And you're here
asking me what you should do. And you, I like, but that doesn't
change the fact that your fiance' wants me dead."
Damen nods, "Yosannah and I were just discussing that."
Yosannah hears her name and looks back over her shoulder.
Edwin sighs, and stares into his glass.
Cisco pauses in the doorway, glancing around before entering.
At the bar, Yosannah says "Yeah, well. If he wanted to kill you, you'd be dead."
Edwin says "Why do I just not believe that. How easy do you think I am to kill?"
Yosannah slaps her fist on the bartop and grabs up the Absynthe and her tea. In her haste the tea spill over and onto her hand. "Goddamnit!"
Jasra says "Indeed? And what was the outcome of the...." She glances at Yosannah.
Damen looks to Jasra. "The outcome was we will make that appointment in the very near future...and that Yosannah should move slowly and carefully in her actions." Damen rubs his jaw and looks to Yo, "You managing?"
Cisco mutters "You should put some ice on that right away, Signora," as he takes a seat.
Edwin says "He's right." Edwin leans across the bar, and gets the bartender to set a glass of ice on the bar. Edwin takes out a clean handkerchief, puts some ice in it, and tied it into a neat bundle, swiftly.
Damen snaps, "NO!"
Yosannah takes a glass if ice from Edwin.
Edwin doesn't say anything to Damen, he just holds the bundle in Yosannah's direction.
Jasra glances back at Damen and arches an eyebrow. "Oh."
Cisco grins "And now for the ice juggling championship, from Eldbridge is reighning champion, Signora Yosannah..."
Damen stands from his table, goes to the bar and takes Yosannah's elbow and steers her back to the table.
Jasra smiles.
Yosannah cracks a smirk at Cisco and gets dragged, "Damen.. Jesus.."
Edwin sets the bundle on the bartop with a shrug.
Cisco dips his head in a small bow to both Yosannah and Damen.
Jasra says "Most excellent. Thank you Damen."
Edwin sighs and shakes his head.
Damen frowns, taking Yosannah's hand within his own. "Let me see that."
Jasra says "Edwin, care to join us?"
Yosannah is obviously annoyed, but holds out her hand. "It's fine."
Edwin says, without turning around, "I'm not welcome."
Damen looks to Jasra, but says nothing.
Jasra says "Oh, yes you are. Join us."
Edwin glances in the mirror.
Kyle gazes about, and shakes his head. "So much for that. Hmm, i think I'll go somewhere else."
Edwin says "No chairs."
Jasra says "Ah. That is a problem. If you are able to move, I would prefer to move to another table."
Jasra says this to Yosannah.
Yosannah flinches "Uh, Yeah, sure. Whatever." She looks at Damen, "Thank you."
Damen says "He can pull over a chair. There is no sense in all of us moving...there's chairs aplenty."
Jasra says "Damen, don't be an ass." Jasra rises, "Edwin, running away is not acceptable."
Edwin says "Who's running?"
Cisco orders a drink and a bowl of peanuts. He watches the others in the bar with casual interest.
Jasra says "Edwin." She says once more, "Join us."
Damen sits down at the table under the balcony.
Yosannah makes a fist once or twice as the head toward another table.
Damen follows Jasra.
Edwin takes his bundle of ice with him.
Edwin drops it in the middle of the table before he sits.
Jasra smiles.
Yosannah looks between the two men and mumbles, "Lovely."
Jasra smiles, "I am assuming you are the lovely Yosannah. I am Jasra, a pleasure to meet you, my dear."
Damen tosses a look at Yosannah. To most, it would be unreadable. But she knows what lies beneath it.
Yosannah ignores Damen's glance and nods lightly at Jasra, "Thank you."
Damen blinks and looks to Jasra. "I was under the impression I had introduced you two long ago."
Yosannah shakes her head, 'no'.
Jasra says "You must have misremembered, Damen."
Damen sips his drink. "Perhaps."
Edwin says "Good afternoon, Jasra. How are you doing?" J
asra says "Edwin, I am doing well. Yourself?"
Edwin shrugs. Jasra says "That well. How wonderful. Heard from Ilse?"
Edwin says "Not for a bit. I've been... occupied."
"With?"
Damen crosses his arms, leaning back in his seat.
Yosannah eyes Damen.
Jasra says "Ah. Damen, don't sulk. It doesn't suit you, even after all these years... I believe he's trying to find Merlin, or some such nonsense. He'll resurface when he's tired of sulking."
Edwin says "No, he's not."
Jasra says "He's not?" She quirks an eyebrow. "That's what he said, but that isn't where he went."
Edwin shakes his head. "I know where dad is."
Jasra peers at Edwin, "Oh? Where is he?"
Yosannah was disinterested, but begins to pay attention.
Damen fehs, "I'm not even close to sulking. I am suprised that with a kingdom to run he is wasting time looking for someone who gave it up. Luke meanders...he always meanders. If he wants to be found, he'll make it known."
Edwin just looks at Damen, "I was looking for him for you, you asshole."
Edwin stands up so fast he knocks his chair over.
Jasra quirks an eyebrow and looks up at Edwin.
Edwin says "Excuse me."
Yosannah closes her eyes and shakes her head.
Edwin storms off towards the door.
Jasra rises. "Edwin."
Edwin says "What." He stops at the door.
Damen looks up to Edwin, "And why would I want to find a father who has made his opinions of me known....in all of shadow?"
Cisco amuses himself by trying to build a 'house of cards' with unshelled peanuts.
Yosannah groans, "You guys.. Christ."
Jasra glances at Damen. "Stop. Right. Now."
Jasra says "Edwin, I will speak to you later. Give Ilse my love. And tell Coral I shall speak to her soon."
Edwin says "So that you can focus your attention on him instead of threatening proxies."
Jasra scowls.
Edwin pushes the door open and leaves the bar.
Jasra retakes her seat and peers at Damen. "Must you?"
Damen fehs. Finndo would be proud. Damen scowls, taking a sip of his drink.
Jasra says "Please. Explain to me. Just why do you wish to aggrivate everyone? Or, specifically, you could have at least inferred that I did not wish for you two to continue your agrueing in my prescense." Jasra scowls at Damen and begins speaking rapid fire to him. "Also, tell me this -- why do you believe that it is OK to annoy me, when you owe me a favor? Not one small minor favor, but a huge, huge favor? AND, can you also explain just why you are acting as if this favor is something that you can just toss to the wind at your whims?"
Yosannah looks flatly at Damen as Jasra flares at him.
Jasra says "AND. Last, but definately not least, have you not learned in all of your years that being a surly, sulking bastard is not going to get you anywhere?"
Damen gestures to Jasra. "-You- invited him to this table, knowing full well my feelings towards him. I would almost think you wanted this. Two mice to pick and paw at each other while the benevolant cat licked it's whiskers and watcked with glee. Whay did you invite him, Jasra? You know I cut all ties with Kashfa. That is why I came to speak with you." Damen speaks heatedly to Jasra at his table.
Cisco glances over his shoulder to the table where Jasra, Damen and Yosannah sit.
Damen says "Our agreement, grandmother, was to treat you and Brand with the proper respect accorded to you...but I will not break bread with -that- bastard."
Yosannah sits quietly as the two allow their voices to rise and fall.
Jasra smiles. "Damen. If you can not get along with Edwin, tell me, just how do you think you are going to get along with Brand? You and Brand have been fighting far, far longer than you and Edwin."
Sarah appears near the bar, and sits down promptly.
Cisco laughs as he chats at the bar.
Damen says "For different reasons. The two cannot be compared, and you know that."
Jasra arches an eyebrow. "Explain the differences, Damen. Or is the only difference that we have an agreement?"
Yosannah bites at her lip and, oddly enough for those that know her, sits quietly.
Damen says "There is no need to go back and forth explaining why two -different- animosities are unique in their own way. It would become a child's riddle. I have cut my ties with Kashfa....for obvious and understandable reasons. There is no reconcilation. And I told you that when I came to speak with you."
Jasra says "I did not know that reconcilation and civlity were the same."
Cisco points over at Yosannah as he chats with those at the bar. He mutters to the bar, "Anyone... her,..." He then points at Sarah.
Yosannah reaches across the table for the wet cloth that sits there. A puddle of water has started to form under it.
Damen says "Take that and there will be words between us, Yosannah."
"I had nothing to do with ..."
Damen growls, "Let the rag lie."
Jasra reaches for the wet cloth instead, eyes on Damen.
Yosannah's eyes flash, "It was making a mess..." She backs off as Jasra's hand slides across the table.
Damen reaches for his drink. His expression is dark.
Jasra picks up the cloth, "Damen. Get the chip off your shoulder. Mandor and I were enemies at one point -- but he always seemed able to be so without being an ass."
Damen shrugs, "I was not raised by the etiquette in the Courts, grandmother. I was raised by gypsies...gypsies my father left me with. This is their way. My way."
Jasra smile softly, "Of course. No one is able to rise above their upbringing." She smirks slightly, "Once a slave, always a slave, perhaps?"
Jasra stands and leaves the table under the balcony.
Damen finishes his drink.
Yosannah sits quietly.
Damen turns his gaze to you, "It troubles me that you feel the need to go behind my back."
Yosannah says "I haven't done that."
Damen says "I asked that you no longer speak with Edwin. I noticed you at the bar. Explain."
Yosannah says "You told me not to go to Kashfa. And you said that I stay away from those people. I haven't done either of those things. And I didn't instigate that discussion."
Damen says "Yet you felt the need to be subtle about it."
Yosannah says "I'm not following you. The first thing I said, inresponse, was that you had asked that I not talk him."
Damen says "What did he ask....and then continue on from there."
Yosannah recalls, "He said hello. I told him I shouldn't be talking to him. He said he was sorry. I said something about YOU're concerns being legit...And he couldn't see why you would threaten he and Kashfa when your father was the real problem. And then he got personal and it upset me."
Damen says "How did he get personal?"
Yosannah says "He said something like, 'I'm glad to see he's not running your life completely' and 'I wouldn't want to marry a suking maniac who threatens to kill people and destroy things when he doesn't get his way.'" She bites at her lip.
Riva glances over at Yosannah.
Damen smiles faintly. "He lives in fear."
Yosannah says "I told him that if you wanted to kill him, he would be dead already. I don't know that I should have said that..."
Damen smiles and reaches across for your hand. "How is it?"
"I don't get you."
Damen sighs softly, "What don't you get?"
Yosannah says "Two seconds ago you looked like you were going to strangle me."
Damen says "I don't want you to have anything to do with Edwin....I don't want you to accept help from him...or even touch a glass...or a rag, that he touched."
Yosannah says "He likes me."
Damen shakes his head, "He doesn't like you...he just wants to get to me."
"I'm a better judge of character than that. Give me a little credit."
Damen chuckles, "Yo...he believes shadows beneath him. He's reeling you in, Yo....why can't you see that?"
Yosannah says "Why don't you trust my instincts?"
Damen says "Because I know my line better than you do....why can't you accept that?"
Yosannah bats her eyelashes at Damen, "I know YOUR line better than anybody."
Damen laughs.
Yosannah says "You know what?"
"What?"
"I want to go to Amber. Will you take me?"
Damen nods. "Sure. Now?"
Yosannah says "Yeah. What are the chances I can see the castle?"
Damen rubs his jaw thoughtfully. "Excellent."
Yosannah says "Really??"
Damen pushes away from the table. "To Castle Amber we go." He grins and holds out his hand to Yosannah.
Yosannah takes his hand....
Main Hall- Amber...
The cathedral-like vaulted
ceilings of this 40 by 100 yard chamber are barely visible in the
light provided by the by the torches which are spaced evenly along
the wall in wrought iron sockets. A spiral staircase of the same
material and similar design rises up in the center of the room, away
from the mosaics which consist entirely of black and white tiles set
in dizzying abstract patterns. In the center of each of the nearly
bare walls is an exit. To the south is the guarded iron gate leading
into Amber City. To the East are the guarded steel double doors which
lead to the Great Hall. To the west are more double doors made of a
rich, golden, burnished wood. To the north is a single, unguarded,
wooden grey door.
Damen looks around. Yosannah whispers, "Are we here?"
She looks about.
Damen frowns faintly. "I used to have a trump of the dungeons...Dworkin's chambers. But I lost them." He nods.
Yosannah spins around to take it all in, "Dwarfkin?" She skips over to the staircase and looks up. "Where's that go?
Damen says "Personal chambers. Which we aren't allowed to explore."
Yosannah hops back over to Damen and covers her mouth as she whispers, "Like for the King?"
Damen nods, "And the Princes and Princesses of Amber.
Yosannah crosses her arms, "So, your grandpa hangs here."
Damen chuckles, "Doubtful...he lives at the Keep."
Yosannah nods, "Well, can we go see anyplace else?"
"In Amber?" "Here. Aren't there like tours or something? You know, like at the Whitehouse, there are daily tours and such."
Damen smirks, "No...no tours."
"Well then... what's the point?"
Damen grins, "The pattern resides here. That's the only point."
"What do you mean?"
"The pattern....the source of power of Amber and Amberites....they're birthright. They walk it...and it bestows upon them the power to create shadows."
Yosannah nods. "Ah. Like places? Or people?"
Damen nods, "Both."
Yosannah smiles lightly, "Like me?"
Damen nods, with a faint smile, "Like you. So what now...Amber is less than exciting."
"Let's go into town or something," Yosannah takes his hand....
Later, at the Gideon Club...
Yosannah wanders over to the couch and plops down.
Damen moves to the bar to mixup some drinks.
Yosannah regards Damen as he moves about the bar, "You're beautiful."
Damen quirks an eyebrow up. "Well, that's a first. I thout you were beautiful and I'm mad, bad and dangerous."
"That whole mad thing that folks have you pegged for is seriously overrated. Your grandmother seemed very nice, by the way."
Damen smirks, "You think?"
"Don't you?"
Damen smiles, "It comes and goes darling.....and I've done questionable things."
"What did she mean when she said that you owed her a favor? What was she talking about?"
Damen smirks, "She feels that by allowing me the grace of her and Brand's prsence I owe her."
"You're serious. Well, that makes her not so nice then, doesn't it."
Damen nods, "It makes her believe she is more important that she really is."
Yosannah bites at her lip and considers, "I'm sorry about all that. I really am."
Damen shrugs, "I'll live...I just need you to know there's always different levels to things that are happening in my business life."
"Maybe if you make more of an effort to include me in it, we wouldn't have situations like today. Maybe."
Damen shakes his head, "See, now look...you apologise..and then it's my fault again."
Yosannah smiles, "I'm not saying it's your fault. I just want to be more involved." She hops up and skips over to Damen, "I Just can't stand to be away from you ." She wraps her arms around his neck, "Isn't that sad?"
Damen raises an eyebrow. "You're making me nervous." He grins.
Yosannah stolls back over to the couch. "Maybe I'm mad too. Just like you. A couple of sicko's. Wonderful."
Damen smiles and joins her on the couch. Damen says "We'll make it...and be made the stronger for it."
Yosannah reaches for Damen's hand. "What did you pour for yourself."
Damen looks into the glass. "Umm...gin and tonic."
Yosannah makes a face as she crawls over him, "Yuck."
Damen smirks, "Had to make something you wouldn't steal from me."
Yosannah drops her jaw dramatically. "Uh!" She takes the glass from his hand anyway and sets it on the floor.
Damen looks up at her. "Hi, sexy."
Yosannah straddles herself in Damen's lap. She slides out of her jacket. "This place has been relatively quiet lately. Have you notices that? Since Stone stopped hanging about regularly."
Damen nods, watching her. His hands move to rest lightly on her hips. "I keep meaning to call a meeting...but things keep interrupting me. Remind me in the morning and I'll try to arrange one before our wedding."
Yosannah runs the back of her hand down his jawline, "Ok. Why so important to do before our wedding." She smiles as she says that.
Damen smiles, "No reason really....except that I don't expect to be doing anything business-wise after our wedding except make love to you over and over again for a few weeks."
Yosannah winces, "I'd like to be able to walk."
Damen chuckles.
Yosannah smiles. "Do something for me."
Damen nods, "Of course."
"Flirt with me. Like you did the first day I met you. Do you remember that?"
Damen smiles and brushes a strand of her hair away from her eyes, "I don't flirt with you anymore?"
Yosannah smiles, "I didn't say that. Just being here reminds me of that day."
Damen leans up to her and nuzzles her ear with his lips. "Then what exactly are you saying, lass." He nips lightly at her earlobe before kissing her neck. "Doesn't your blood boil anymore? Or could it be...that there was an element of mystery to me then that excited you. The fact that Stone warned you to stay clear of me."
Yosannah trembles as she whispers, "He did no such thing. He threw me at you. And you're still a mystery."
Damen skims his hands up along her ribcage. "I hope so. You and I still have some damage to do."
Yosannah tilts her head in effort to seek out Damen's lips, "Damage?"
Damen murmurs, "Oh yes...damage." He meets her lips with his own and curls his fingers into her hair.
Yosannah smiles softly, even as she runs her tongue lightly over his lower lip, "... maybe I should stay clear of you. It's not too late."
Damen murmurs against her, "Of course it is. You've signed on the dotted line, lass. There's no turnign back and I plan on collecting in full."