Respect the oldest profession!

[Sierra]

<El-Cideon> Yomi, Selene and Suzume arrive at Vivienne's apartment to find the beleaguered Parisian lying on her sofa with a blanket over her, Nadia bringing her a glass of water.
<Nadia_Chekova> "Ahh, hello you three," Nadia lets them in before delivering Vivienne's water. "You already know Selene and Suzume, and that's Yomi there," she provides for introductions. "What happened at the church?"
<Yomi> "I made him confess, and then turned him over to the police," Yomi responds, hanging a bit back in case Vivienne feels crowded by all the new faces. "I thought it best to leave any mentions of demons out of it, and we erased the summoning circle as well."
<El-Cideon> "Demons? Is that what it was all about?" Vivienne says, looking, if anything, even more horrified. "I heard chanting sometimes, but I never saw...my god!" She shivers, downs a long draught of water.
<Nadia_Chekova> "That was what you heard Suzume and I fighting upstairs, but it's dead now, and Father Edmund will surely get the guillotine for his crimes," Nadia tells Vivienne. "You shouldn't have to fear him ever again."
<Yomi> "We'll try to keep it out of the tabloids, so if you don't mention them yourself, it should be safe," Yomi tells her. She grimaces. "I still can't believe he did it willingly, only because he wanted to date. Aren't there better ways that don't involve selling your soul to a count of Hell?"
<El-Cideon> She nods. "I guess I should thank all of you...I just want to sleep for a very long time. The police aren't going to come asking me questions, are they? I'd rather I could forget about the whole thing."
<Nadia_Chekova> "That's what happens with people who repress themselves for years and years until they finally explode," Nadia declares sagely. "Did he confess to kidnapping Vivienne or just the murder?"
<Yomi> "Both, so the police would be here in time. They were first headed over to the church, and then we heard sirens at his house. Locating Vivienne would take a bit more time, during which we would likely have to leave."
* Yomi gives Vivienne a slight smile. "At least with all the evidence and the confession, there should be no reason for you to face him again, be it in court or elsewhere."
<El-Cideon> "What should I tell them? I got out on my own, or, or he let me out?"
<Yomi> "Perhaps... he was acting absent-minded today? And forgot to lock the door? You don't quite remember how you got home, or how long ago?"
<El-Cideon> "If only I didn't! I don't remember much about the past few days, so it is not much of a stretch."
<Nadia_Chekova> "It would be awkward if you say he let you out but he doesn't say that in his own confession," Nadia admits. "Lets just pretend that he forgot to lock the door, since you were so weak he probably didn't think you could escape anyway, but you tried it and found it open so you then came home to rest? It may be a good idea to contact the police on your own even before they get here, just
<Nadia_Chekova> to keep the story consistent."
<El-Cideon> "Yes...I'll try and keep quiet on the details until I get an idea of what he told them. I don't care what they think as long as he's punished for it!"
<Yomi> "He said you were seeing each other," Yomi adds, "but that may well have been one of his insane delusions. It is really up to you what you tell the police. If it would help, however, Selene could fill you in on his confession...."
<El-Cideon> "We were there as he spoke on the phone," Selene says. "I can't confirm what transpired after the police acquired him, but he told us that he killed Jeanne Guerin in the heat of a lover's quarrel and hid the body in his cellar out of desperation; that you found it and he locked you in to keep the story from getting out..."
<El-Cideon> Vivienne nods. "I should call them now, I think...They'll probably be here soon enough, after all."
<Nadia_Chekova> "In that case we'd best be off. I hope you can put this ordeal behind you, Vivienne - good luck," Nadia offers, stepping away from the couch.
* Yomi nods at Vivienne, and glances over at their actress friend. "Selene, stay in touch?"
<El-Cideon> Vivienne climbs to her feet, hobbles over with the blanket around her to a telephone on a desk. "Thank you all, again..." she says before dialing.
<El-Cideon> "Yes," Selene says as you all file out of the apartment. "Although I don't know what I could possibly help anyone as capable as you all with, I certainly owe you whatever assistance I could provide in an emergency."
<Nadia_Chekova> "We'll keep it in mind, although in the meantime you can look into finding a nice resort for us when we have time to relax," Nadia smiles slightly as they go downstairs.
<El-Cideon> "Yes." She manages a smile. "Let me know when you have an opening in your busy schedule of smiting evildoers. I'll try to have something prepared for us."
<Nadia_Chekova> "Hopefully after a week or so," Nadia nods amiably. Assuming they don't get killed or arrested in Moscow, but it hasn't happened yet!
<Yomi> "Unless Moscow disappears," Yomi agrees.
<El-Cideon> You reach the street. Selene peers at Yomi with a skeptical expression. "Is this likely to happen? It's not normal behavior for large cities."
* Yomi nods. "Moderately so, barring intervention."
<Nadia_Chekova> "It will happen unless we stop it," Nadia declares. "My, it makes you feel very important, doesn't it?"
<El-Cideon> "Well. I wish you good luck in your intervention, then," Selene says with a disbelieving shake of her head. "I should be getting home now. After all, it's not as though I had any involvement in bringing a corrupt priest's sins to light today. I was home all afternoon." She turns and waves. "Adieu, all."
* Nadia_Chekova waves in return. "Well... another train and boat ride back to London, then?" she asks Yomi and Suzume with a sigh, stretching her back in anticipation of spending the rest of the day sat down.
<Yomi> "I think Whitney is evil," Yomi says out of the blue.
* Nadia_Chekova blinks. "Whitney we met on the train Whitney?" she clarifies. "What brought this on? You seemed fine with her back in Russia."
<El-Cideon> "She...well, the priest said she taught him to summon demons..." Suzume says. "I know, it's hard to believe, isn't it?"
<Nadia_Chekova> "It is!" Nadia blurts out. "Are you sure it was that Whitney?"
<Yomi> "My intuition told me to look deeper, but I left it alone at the time. Maybe it was that incredibly potent demon that threw me off, or your friendship with her." Yomi shrugs. "The priest gave a very vague description that seemed to fit her, and that made it far more likely that she was actually conversing with the demon I sensed on the train. The other one, the small demon that skittered up on the car's roof."
<Nadia_Chekova> "But... she never did anything," Nadia protests. "Rena and I were sleeping in the same room as her for a week and we're both fine. She never tried to hurt us or teach us evil demonic arts. She just talked about her travels and her family, and was entirely pleasant throughout."
<Yomi> "It is possible she knew about us, and it would have been a stupid move to try anything while outnumbered."
* Yomi looks away, muttering, "I know it doesn't make sense, but neither had anything Wakahisa did, either."
<El-Cideon> "Kurou would've said anything just to get you out of the village," Suzume says with a nod. "Maybe she just didn't want trouble either?"
* Nadia_Chekova frowns. "Good point... And she did know Ivo even if I could never get her drawn on the subject. She even seemed properly shocked and appalled when I told her of what he did to Rena. She's a good actress, then, and I wonder if her being in Moscow has more to do with Masha's plans than a search for her supposed 'sister'."
<Yomi> "If you know her full name, we could try check up her story. It can't be that hard to confirm if that sister exists, right?"
<El-Cideon> "Did she ever tell you her last name?" Suzume wonders. "Or anything else?"
<Nadia_Chekova> "She never mentioned it and I never asked," Nadia shakes her head. "I didn't tell her my last name either."
<Yomi> "Yes, well... I thought you should know. Just in case we came across her again. Let's go back home?"
<El-Cideon> More trains, another ferry ride, a brief side-trip to see Suzume back home, and the very tired duo of Yomi and Nadia come back home. It's evening now. You find Rena sitting on the floor in your living room. (more)
<El-Cideon> Along with the quartet of easy chairs ringing the fireplace, the room also had a small bookshelf when you moved in, sitting next to the door to the patio. Rena seems to have spent some time going through the books filed here.
* Yomi blinks. "We have books?"
<El-Cideon> Rena looks up from whatever she's currently flipping through. "Yes, but I do not know if they would interest you. I have found none about demons."
* Yomi turns away in a huff. "I do read about other things!"
<Nadia_Chekova> "What kind are they, then?" Nadia goes to lean over Rena's shoulder.
<El-Cideon> "I have found several categories," Rena says, pointing to various groupings of books on the floor. "Most of them are very colorful guidebooks or listings of plants and birds. I have found these pleasant to look at. There is a smaller amount of another kind." (more)
<El-Cideon> Rena points to a small stack of books some feet away. You can see several dog-eared paperbacks, dime novels with titles suggesting pulp and true crime stories. There is also an envelope and a slip of paper sitting on the floor next to them.
<Nadia_Chekova> "What's this?" Nadia picks up the envelope and paper, more intrigued by that than the pulp novels.
<El-Cideon> The envelope is unsealed, having never been sent from the look of things. The address carefully penciled in on the front is to a Roger Torrence in Dover; the return address is incomplete, having only the name of Etta Parker. The slip of paper is an unfinished letter that only goes for a few lines. There are greetings from [there's a blank left here], some bland pleasantries about life in the tropics, then it stops.
<El-Cideon> Neither letter nor envelope are yellowed with age; they seem recent.
<Nadia_Chekova> Seems utterly banal, and Nadia promptly tosses it in the bin. "Oh, well, I'm going to lie down for a bit, I'm sore from sitting around on a train all day," she declares, retreating to her room.
<Yomi> "I'll go and clear the yard of weeds," Yomi tells Rena, waving at the ascending Nadia. "I should be able to do that much."
<El-Cideon> "Did I miss anything interesting?" Rena wonders, starting to file the books back onto the shelf.
<Nadia_Chekova> "Oh!" Nadia stops on the stairs, turning back. "Yes! Whitney's actually evil it turns out."
<El-Cideon> "I wish the nice ones would stop being evil," Rena says as she finishes cleaning up the mess.
<Nadia_Chekova> "It's a drag, isn't it?" Nadia agrees with a sigh, continuing upstairs now that she's delivered that juicy piece of gossip.
<El-Cideon> ~

<El-Cideon> Passing the afternoon studying her own arcane pursuits, Erin comes across a familiar presence in the main library at the lodge: Paula Nico. She's sitting at a table in the center of the room, reading a book. She looks unchanged from your last encounter: dressed in white, pale, almost gleaming blond hair, what you could swear is an ethereal glow that disappears on close inspection.
<Erin> If there is an epitome of European beauty, Paula is probably it, and it's with slight relief that Erin realises she's alone at the moment. "Afternoon," she remarks, taking a seat across the table from Paula. "How do you find our library, Miss Nico?"
<El-Cideon> "Large and well-stocked. You take your learning seriously here, I can tell. I approve, despite that it's never been a passion of mine."
<Erin> "When we were just starting out, we were holding meets at the library in London University," replies Erin. "We managed to get this place when Grace talked a few old money types into making contributions- widowers, actually."
<El-Cideon> "The bereft can be impressionable, yes, desiring to leave a better legacy to salve their loss. ...Apologies for my cynicism," she adds with a smile. "This is simply the sort of thing I've had to take into account in the past. So, what study brings you here today?"
<Erin> "Being forced to confront death makes people want to know where it leads, and that is a question we continuously seek to answer. As for myself, well, originally I intended to continue translating the Journal of the Count, which might help us do just that." replies Erin. "But I had an idea, and I'm in the process of putting together a spell."
<El-Cideon> "Oh yes? And where's the rest of your merry band? Not so prone to studying as you, I suppose?"
<Erin> "I suppose they're at home," replies Erin. "They bought a house in London, actually. We should really throw a party there at some point, but there probably won't be time. What have you been up to? I hope the young men about here haven't been bothering you too much?"
<El-Cideon> She laughs a little. "Ah, you misunderstand my appeal. I have never sought to beguile followers into any mortal sort of love. It suits me more to cultivate a sort of mystic reverence. Actually, a certain amount of personal distance has always been beneficial for my purposes. Which isn't to say there isn't occasional interest." She shrugs. "I am accustomed to deflecting it."
<Erin> "Ah, I see. And have you had success in that regard, as well?" wonders Erin, curiously. "We are a spiritual society, but a scientific one, as well. When we're confronted with things beyond the normal, well, we try to learn about them. At least, I hope we put that sort of curiosity into our initiates..."
<El-Cideon> "Oh, I can tell some suspect I'm something more than I seem and carefully inquire to find out what exactly that is. But I wouldn't want to poach from your own faithful. That would be terribly rude of me, wouldn't it? So I've mostly kept to myself here." She raps her fingers on the book before her. "Catching up on your local history. I've lived through plenty at home, but never really looked abroad."
<Erin> "Would this be the first time you've really gone far afield from your home, actually?"
<El-Cideon> "Eastern Europe comprises my traditional stomping grounds. I've really never strayed far from where the Slavs lived. For a long time I feared to do so, that I'd be forgotten and waste away once I left my few believers. But I seem comparatively hale and hearty now. I suppose I should have more faith in them."
<Erin> "It would take more than a few weeks for people's memories to fade. I'm honestly very curious as to the physics of it all... ah, that's right. Did you ever find yourself in competition with other, ah, supernatural beings, besides that dreadful vampire?"
<El-Cideon> "Only occasionally. There was the occasional occult presence, but...well, I found those willing to worship an openly demonic presence very prone to self-destruction as well. The looming threats were usually mortal in nature--Mongol hordes, Turks trying to push into Europe, Russian encroachment. All of these were far more disruptive to me personally."
<Erin> "Invasions... disruption to the status quo, those things would be troublesome. But as long as people, somewhere in the world keep some faith in you, you would remain healthy. And- can I confirm something? When you look upon a man, can you know whether or not his belief is aiding you?"
<El-Cideon> "I can, but it comes from experience. From knowing how to recognize this in people. I do have a considerable amount of experience, after all. It's not really understanding of a mystical nature, although whether genuine deities possess such an ability is something I can neither confirm nor deny. I've always kept out of their way. I'm not really in their league, after all." She smiles a little. "I was never really more than a supernatural menace."
<Erin> "I've not encountered anything I'd call an all-powerful deity, not even Elgin," replies Erin. "Hmm. I want to ask another question on the topic. I believe in you, of course- and I know as much as anyone besides yourself, I would imagine. But- how can I say this- it's in a very academic sense. I know you exist, because I can see you, and I believe the legends surrounding you because the present-"
<Erin> "-would indicate the past holds truth. Does that, do you think, contribute to your health?"
<El-Cideon> "In truth, I'm doubtful. Most who know of what I was know this only in an academic sense, yes. As something people believed, not something that was. I am currently sustained by *what* people believe I am and how strongly they believe it. But because of what they see and sense, not because of something they read in a book or were simply told."
<Erin> "Does it ever frighten you?"
<El-Cideon> "Of course. But there are times I think it should not as much as it does. Faith isn't such a fickle thing. At least," she smiles, "when you do good work. It's easy to fool people into merely suspecting you're something more than human, but this doesn't create the lasting impression you really desire. Teaching a man to work for himself, giving his existence the structure that will sustain him the rest of his life? That, they never forget."
<Erin> "It sounds like you treat them like a parent would their child," remarks Erin, smiling.
<El-Cideon> "I hadn't considered it that way, but it doesn't seem far off. Yes, I suppose it does feel that way sometimes."
<El-Cideon> ~

<El-Cideon> It's the second morning of waiting. It dawns just like any other and continues to be mundane up until the point where Erin walks into her kitchen for her morning tea. There's someone sitting at her kitchen table: Sayuri, reading a newspaper.
<Erin> "My house is not intended as a B&B for ninjas. Did the last one not pass on the message?"
<El-Cideon> "A woman who makes as many enemies as you do should have sturdier locks on her doors," Sayuri says, ignoring the jibe. "Wake your friends. You're all in considerable danger."
<Erin> "This is really putting a crimp in the concept of mercy," mutters Erin, shaking her head and moving to rap on the door to the guestrooms. "From what?"
<El-Cideon> "Tsukino."
<El-Cideon> Suzume walks out in a nightgown, bleary-eyed. "What...? Who's this?"
<Erin> "Ugh, really? Really? Your insipid friends are coming all the way over here?" mutters Erin, shaking her head. "This is an assassin we are apparently partial to. Suzume, go wake up Uliana, would you? Quickly, now, we're facing an imminent assault of soldiers in pyjamas."
<Erin> For her part, Erin wanders over to the telephone!
<El-Cideon> "Um...okay." Suzume knocks on Uliana's door, goes in to rouse the woman (she's a heavy sleeper) and emerges with a hastily-dressed Uliana trailing behind her.
<El-Cideon> Nadia and Yomi's phone rings. The first phone call in your own house. How exciting!
<Yomi> "Who is it?" Yomi asks, cooling down after her morning training with a nice cup of tea.
<Erin> "Ah, this is Erin. How is your morning going, Yomi? Your ninja friend came over to say hello!"
<Yomi> "Oh, that is lovely!" Yomi exclaims. "Please tell her I said hi!"
<Erin> "Certainly. She also happened to inform me that we may be in for a spot of bother with the other Tsukinos."
<Yomi> Yomi's good cheer plummets. "Did she say why?" she asks, and covers the mouth piece before yelling, "Rena, Nadia, wake up!"
<Erin> "I confess that I'm beyond caring, but I can enquire. Shall we meet at my place or yours?"
<Yomi> "Yours is fine, we're close enough anyhow."
* Nadia_Chekova does so reluctantly, rubbing her eyes as she leans out of her bedroom door. "What is it?"
<Yomi> "Erin says ninja are coming after her, so we have to get going."
<El-Cideon> Rena stumbles out of her bedroom, already looking quite awake. "We're not being attacked again, are we? --Oh. We are?"
<Yomi> "It sounds like we will be in a few."
<Erin> "I've got the others up, so I'll see you shortly," replies Erin, soon hanging up. "Alright. Why's all this come about?" she asks, turning back to Sayuri. "Oh, you might as well save it for when the others arrive.
<Nadia_Chekova> "Ugh... damn them," Nadia grumbles bitterly, closing her door so she can get dressed and make herself somewhat presentable.
* Yomi is already dressed, at least, so she only makes sure to wrap her sword up protectively.
<El-Cideon> Fortunately, it's only a few minutes' walk to get to Erin's place and Erin doesn't long have to put up with Sayuri's disapproving silences and glares towards everything that isn't an elite ninja assassin. Erin's living room is pretty crowded by the time everyone's piled in, though.
<Yomi> "Hi!" Yomi greets Sayuri as she enters. "How have you been? Want to see Shishio since I have it, now?"
* Nadia_Chekova is happy to rectify the balance of power by glaring at said elite ninja assassins as soon as she arrives for being pale imitations of legendary catburglars!
<El-Cideon> "Certainly," she says with professional interest (and doing her best to ignore Nadia and Rena).
* Yomi presents her sacred sword, holding it out horizontally.
<El-Cideon> Sayuri nods with clear approval. "I would ask to try it myself, but we hardly have time for that right now."
* Yomi returns the nod. "Maybe later, then. What is wrong?"
<El-Cideon> "Would it be too simplistic to say 'Everything?'" she wonders aloud. "I'll attempt to summarize. Several unpleasant things happened in rapid succession over the past week: Ichirou Fukui became aware that you are still alive; Fukui attempted to move against Tsukino; Tsukino eliminated Fukui. Their cover in Japan is compromised and they are very, very upset with all of you."
<Yomi> "Is any part of this actually our fault?" Yomi has to ask.
<El-Cideon> "They believe it to be so. I don't know every detail here, but I do know that a woman came to Fukui reporting about some activities of yours in China."
* Yomi looks pointedly at Erin at that for some reason.
<Erin> "Yes?"
<El-Cideon> Sayuri follows Yomi's gaze. "Is this Erin's fault somehow?"
<Yomi> "There can be only one person who would do that. Frankly, I think your technique needs work."
<Nadia_Chekova> "Oh, was that whatshername? The one that had your sword, Yomi?" Nadia asks. "I was sure she'd never make it out of Beijing, to be honest."
* Yomi frowns at Erin. "Just what did you do? Ask her nicely to repent and then leave her with travel fare?"
<Nadia_Chekova> "Hoshi! That was it," she nods after a moment of wracking her brain.
<Erin> "What exactly did you expect me to do? Slit her throat?"
<El-Cideon> "Hoshi, yes," Suzume says, looking dismayed. "She would've known enough to go Fukui if she got back to Japan. I guess it was hoping for too much for her to not be vengeful."
<Yomi> "I expect you to consider the consequences of your actions! A person is still dead as a direct result of this, but because you didn't do it yourself, you consider it out of your hands. That's just like what you plan to do with Masha!"
<El-Cideon> Sayuri shrugs. "I don't care whose fault it is. Although I admit to some disappointment that it is not Nadia's. What matters is that they'll be coming here, soon, and in numbers."
<Yomi> "I will defend myself with lethal force," Yomi responds. "They will be throwing their lives away."
<Erin> "I will not put myself on the same level as a murderer! Nor will I hold myself responsible for these people opting to kill each other over such foolishness. Don't turn to me and tell me it is my fault murderers target one another."
<Nadia_Chekova> "Well, I can share Erin's blame since I didn't kill Hoshi either," Nadia shrugs. "But I didn't think much for a wounded and poorly socialised Japanese woman's chances in Beijing given the political climate of the day."
<Yomi> "Oh no, Masha is too dangerous to remain free! And Masha cannot be held in a prison! Ah, but I won't kill her." Yomi sniffs. "I suppose it's just fine if a murderer like myself does something about it. Is that how you think?"
<El-Cideon> "I don't know how she got back home if she was in as bad as a state as you say. I only know that she did, that she went straight to Fukui, and requested his assistance in eliminating a shared enemy. Fukui decided it expedient to get rid of his unreliable allies for political gain first. A fatal mistake. But this is all academic. I don't know who this Masha person you're talking about is, but you need to defend yourselves, now."
<Erin> "Oh, please," replies Erin, suddenly. "You were happy enough to dance around the ninjas, and even make a sociable aquaintance with this one, despite the odious ethics of their profession. Don't pretend to me you care more about human lives than you do about slaying demons!"
<Erin> "From who? There's nobody here but us!"
<Erin> "Where are they, then?"
<El-Cideon> "That's because I came here to warn you," Sayuri says, with some heat.
<Erin> "Why?"
<Nadia_Chekova> "Well, to be fair, Sayuri is helping us now... although I wonder why? Did Yomi make that much of a positive impression that you're willing to betray your clan?" Nadia asks curiously. "Of course, they are reneging on their own deal to leave her alone, so it's not like betrayal is unusual."
* Yomi can't respond to Erin right away, but she eventually says, far more calmly than before, "You wouldn't understand. But I'm not trying to evade my responsibility, whatever it might be." She turns to Sayuri next. "Just how much time do you think we have?"
<El-Cideon> Another shrug. "Does it really matter why? They consider this situation a result of a breach of the arrangement between you and them and have resolved to deal with such situations as they always do. Not to mention this being an expedient time for them to not be in Japan."
<El-Cideon> "A day," she says. "Perhaps two. They will assuredly strike at night."
<Erin> "As if that crowd has any right to be up in arms over breach of contract," mutters Erin. "I take it they know everything about us?"
* Yomi shakes her head. "They can't possibly know everything," she says, thinking of Hazel, Uliana and Paula.
<El-Cideon> "They know what I know. They questioned me at length about your combat capabilities. I spoke very highly of Yomi's, though of course I could only speculate about the rest of you, having not witnessed any of your vaunted talents firsthand."
* Nadia_Chekova smirks at that. "Well, perhaps it's time for us to leave the country? We do have places to be, after all."
<El-Cideon> "They will find you. It's what they do."
<Yomi> "We do. Sayuri, is this--" Yomi gestures about vaguely "--because you like us, or do you want to switch sides altogether?"
<El-Cideon> She shifts in place, looking uncomfortable. "I admit that I have not known you very long. But camaraderie is a different sort of binding tie than duty. I had mentors in Tsukino, trainers, superiors." She looks at Yomi. "I would not say anyone truly attempted to be my friend. Make of it what you will. I believe all that matters is that I am here, and that we prepare."
<Nadia_Chekova> "Or maybe you took to heart what I said about seducing your way past someone's defences!" Nadia suggests brightly, beaming at Sayuri.
* Yomi looks curiously at Nadia. "Seducing?"
<El-Cideon> "If I wanted to kill someone here, I could've done it as they slept. My opinion still stands, Nadia."
<Erin> "I'll book some tickets. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven..." mutters Erin, picking up her phone again. "To Moscow?"
<Nadia_Chekova> "It doesn't have to be romantic," Nadia waves dismissively at Yomi. "Anyway, I suppose there is that. So, do we intend to stick around and fight the ninjas, or go to Moscow and hope they get bored and leave by the time we come home?"
<Erin> "If they're only after us, I would say we leave."
<Yomi> "We have the advantage of knowing someone in government here," Yomi muses. "With such a quantity of ninja attacking, we couldn't just pass it off as a lone robber. Maybe it's best to make our stand here?"
<El-Cideon> "If you must run, run. But there is an opportunity here to end them: I spoke highly of your abilities, and they took it to heart. The Tsukino leadership is coming here to see to things personally. If you eliminate them, the organization is functionally finished. My advice to you is to find a defensible location and prepare a trap."
<Nadia_Chekova> "I would rather deal with the problem permanently than give them a chance to dig in here and await our return," Nadia casts her vote. "We have allies here, and the authorities would hopefully be on our side."
<Yomi> "The first order of business is to check in with our allies, and see if we can't find an out of the way location where we wouldn't need to worry over bystanders."
<El-Cideon> "Yes, Yomi. They require a certain amount of privacy to carry out this job, given the number of you they must eliminate and the number of agents required to carry this out. I suspect they will not do something so obvious as to attack while you remain in the city...but if you wait for them to arrive before taking any preparations, they will simply attack as soon as you leave."
<El-Cideon> "If you have any favors pending, by all means call them in now."
<Erin> Erin pauses with her hand on the dial, and glances back and forth between everyone in the room. "I know a good place," she mutters, dispiritedly. "It's an old church we used to conduct rituals at, in the outer suburbs. The neighbourhood is not the best, and it is certainly godless. We wouldn't be interrupted, and it's the kind of place some might think us to go.
<Erin> There is an empty belfry to keep a lookout, and a basement we can use as a makeshift ward."
<Yomi> "So it's defensible? They couldn't just, I don't know, set it on fire and wait for us to come out?"
<El-Cideon> "I do not know if I approve of using a church to plan a massacre," Uliana says. "Even if those slain are vile murderers."
<Yomi> "If Erin conducted rituals in it, it was probably rededicated anyway."
<El-Cideon> She frowns. "Perhaps..."
<Nadia_Chekova> "We'd really have to look at it to see how defensible it is," Nadia shrugs. "Perhaps we should contact Walker to see if there's any official help we could count on?"
<Erin>  "It's made of stone, and we would have plenty of space to see anyone coming," replies Erin. "There would be plenty of factories in the inner city that would mostly be empty, but..." She flinches at Uliana's words. "I do not plan on killing anyone, but if it is the only way for us to survive, then I can't tell you not to use lethal force."
<El-Cideon> "I would wish to avoid killing if possible, but if it is the only way to defend yourself...Sometimes the only way to deal with the unrighteous is to smite them."
<Yomi> "Let's check with Myriam as well," Yomi suggests. "Perhaps she would have an idea of what we could do against a large group like this, or something we could borrow to aid with their detection or containment."
<Erin> "How will they follow our movements?" asks Erin, glancing at Sayuri. "Are we being watched, even now?"
<Nadia_Chekova> "Sayuri can tell them where we are," Nadia suggests. "She's cunningly snuck in amongst us and gained our confidence without us being any the wiser, and will happily guide her fellow ninjas past our defences to ambush us when we least expect it, isn't that right?"
<El-Cideon> "You should have some time in which to move freely--I left ahead of them, before the order was given to move. I would not count on that time extending past this evening, however--and I would not count on them listening to anything I have to say. I am, as the saying goes, away without leave."
* Nadia_Chekova sighs. So much poor Sayuri needs to learn if she ever wants to make it as a legendary cat burglar... "Oh, well. How about I contact Walker while someone else goes to see Myriam?"
<Yomi> "I'll do that, and Erin could check that the church is as she remembers it?"
<Erin> "I'll stop by the Lodge first and get Paula and the others to help."
<Yomi> "Oh, this will be fun. Give Paula my regards?"
<Erin> "Yes, of course," replies Erin, surveying the other women in the room. "We'd better stay in groups of at least two each."
<Nadia_Chekova> "Rena should keep an eye on Sayuri," Nadia suggests on that note as she mentally dictates her telegram. "In fact, they can come with me to send the telegram, I don't mind either way."
* Yomi gives Sayuri a look of sympathy.
<Erin> "Suzume, do you mind accompanying me?" asks Erin, deciding she needs a sane and mellow presence with her when she inevitably comes to speak with Hazel and Lucia.
<El-Cideon> "I accompany the professional harlot and the harlot in training. Glorious," Sayuri says.
* Yomi extends her hand to Uliana. "That leaves us. Do you need to get anything from here before we leave?"
<El-Cideon> "Possessions are of little importance and I have none," Uliana says.
<El-Cideon> Suzume nods. "Certainly."
<Nadia_Chekova> "It's not that we like spending time with the professional killer," Nadia tells Sayuri, "But if you try anything I can rely on Rena's amateur skills."
<Nadia_Chekova> "Not to mention her legendary Masamune blade."
<El-Cideon> Sayuri snorts. "Her stolen Masamune blade. If warning you about your impending doom wasn't enough to earn your trust, I can only assure you that I have no plans to kill you. In the immediate future."
<Yomi> "Something tells me you're more upset over not being treated as a professional than the actual insult here, Nadia," Yomi admits.
<Nadia_Chekova> "Hmph," Nadia sniffs. "Even if I've never worked as a whore myself, I'm not so conceited as to look down on them." Considering her mother was one, and all...
<El-Cideon> "Ah. Perhaps I misspoke. I do not recall seeing you get paid."
<Yomi> "Let's just all get along, or something sappy like that? We do have real enemies with real desires to kill us. We can save all the sniping for afterwards."
<Erin> "Yes, I agree. How are we supposed to function as a team otherwise?"
<El-Cideon> Sayuri shrugs. "The repartee will surely cease once combat begins. It's not as though one can focus on speaking while fighting, after all. Yes, let's be on our way."
<Nadia_Chekova> "Just wait until we collect Hazel," Nadia chuckles, starting to head off to the nearest telegraph office.
<Nadia_Chekova> Once there, Nadia dictates the following telegraph to her spy friend: JAPANESE TSUKINOS COMING TO LONDON WITHIN TWO DAYS STOP EXPECTING LIVELY PARTY STOP WOULD APPRECIATE HELP WITH CLEANUP FULL STOP
<El-Cideon> Meanwhile, Yomi and Uliana head out of the city to Myriam's again. Myriam's assistant, Mat, answers the door as usual. "Ah, hello again. Unexpected, but good timing. We have something resembling results. Follow me, please?"
* Yomi follows!
<El-Cideon> Myriam is in the mirrored room again. "The rest of you are too busy to see me this time, hm? I see how it is," she says with a smile.
<Yomi> "We do seem to have a situation on our hands," Yomi says apologetically. "But I won't trouble you with it until I hear those good news your assistant mentioned. Let's start this off on a good note, shall we?"
<El-Cideon> "Oh, that's ominous. Well, I don't have news of the good countess--but I did make some attempts to track down our other mysterious adversary through this odious weapon here." She gestures to the machete, which is lying on the stone pedestal. "It must have imbued it with some of its own essence--enough to lead me to its current host, if not to the demon itself. (more)
<El-Cideon> "I can't think of any other reason tracing the item back to its owner would reward me with a vision of a nun in a convent."
<Yomi> "We do believe that he keeps on possessing others, though we haven't discerned a pattern in the victims just yet. Still, a man was killed in South Africa trying to get to his things, and then there was another man acting emotionlessly that tried to find out where Erin was here in the country. Could you tell which convent, at least?"
<El-Cideon> She shakes her head. "I don't have enough information yet. She was tied to a bed, and struggling as though struck with a terrible fever. The others attending her were speaking in Italian. I'll try and follow some of them to get a better idea of the surroundings."
<Yomi> "Could you try to get in touch with them, you think? Christian religious types believe in possessions, don't they? Maybe we could help. Share some of our knowledge, perhaps even manage to exorcize her and contain this thing."
<El-Cideon> "When I know more, I will. I'll keep watching. I need at least a name before I can have any good idea where precisely she is. I wasn't rewarded with such on my last attempt and she--it--shut me out on the first. I'll keep you posted. Now, what is this dilemma of yours? Anything I can assist with?"
<Yomi> "Possibly so. You see, an entire clan of ninja got a bad lot in life, and they've decided to kill us to make themselves feel better. They can't possibly know about you, so it shouldn't really spill over, but if you have anything to make the place we'll be making our stand in more defensible, or alert us when they're sneaking past our perimeter, or even something to hold them once we've caught them...."
<El-Cideon> She considers this for a moment, not batting an eye about mention of ninjas or the situation in general. "Where have you decided to make your stand?"
<Yomi> "Erin knows an abandoned church on the outskirts of London. It's made of stone, and is surrounded by factories, apparently. I only have the general directions."
<El-Cideon> "Well, it is rather important to me that you not die, so I'll help however I can. Tell me as much as possible about what you'll be facing and what you think you need to prepare?"
<Yomi> "They're all coming over, from what we could tell. The real trouble is from their three leaders, however. We've met them and I can give my impressions. I could also get in touch with Sayuri, who was a part of this Tsukino clan but decided to stand with us instead. She'll know more, I believe."
<El-Cideon> "Well, I can provide you with some material assistance. Possibly spare some hands, though they don't typically enjoy leaving home..."
<Yomi> "My main concern is having them sneak in. One of their leaders evaded our pursuit back in Japan despite our best efforts, which gives me cause for worry. They also all use poison, as far as I can tell, so easy counters to whatever they will have would not go amiss."
<El-Cideon> "My dogs have sharp eyes and ears. Krystalla even moreso, but she can't leave the grounds..." She looks speculative for a moment. "Did you consider hiding here? Unless they can fly, no one's reaching this mansion without leaving a sign."
<Yomi> "We did, briefly. But we can't overtly drag you into danger like this. It's just not right."
<El-Cideon> "If you insist. I am more than prepared to deal with intruders, but I won't press you. It's your fight; you have to fight it your way...Mat? Fetch a decent amount of our potion stock, please. My diadem and ring...and a couple pairs of spectacles. You know the ones."
<El-Cideon> Myriam's assistant disappears through the far door on the other side of the room. Myriam herself leads you back to the entrance of the mansion, where a couple of the strange dogs lounge. Myriam speaks to them in a strange language you don't recognize--too many long, breathy sounds like wind through trees. They look at you.
* Yomi looks back for several moments, before turning her attention back to Myriam. "Thank you. And our interests would probably be best served if less people knew about you or interrupted your work, wouldn't you say? We're hoping that we'll break this attack by dealing with the three in charge, and this would mean that none of the ninja they're leading would become aware of your existence."
<El-Cideon> "This is all true. I'd simply be very disappointed if you died." She smiles. "Now, these two don't understand English, I'm afraid, but they are intelligent and very good about following gestures. Point out where they should patrol, or attack, and they'll do so. Try not to be in front of them when they find an enemy. The noise they make can be debilitating."
<Yomi> "Would they only obey me?" Yomi asks the pertinent question to get it out of the way. "And how do I get them to stop, or to order them individually?"
<El-Cideon> "I've told them to follow anyone in your little band. They'll understand once you're all gathered. They're very refined animals, not slobbering mutts. Snap your fingers and they'll return to your side; point to an individual to single him out. That's all you need to do."
* Yomi smiles. "Even I could manage that. Thank you."
<El-Cideon> Mat returns with a small wooden box and a sack that clinks gently with the sound of bottles shifting. "Here," Myriam says. "I wouldn't mind having the trinkets back when you're done with them, but the potions are all yours. Good luck."
<Yomi> "There is one last thing I would like to ask you, since it is entirely outside of my area of expertise," Yomi tells her, shifting. "Is there a magical way to ensure a person forgets things, or leaves you alone? A prohibition or taboo... maybe?"
<El-Cideon> "There are such spells. I don't often use them...at least that anyone remembers," she jokes. "I know others who are more naturally skilled in such matters, as well. It's not something one should do lightly, tinkering with another's mind. It can have unintended effects if one isn't careful. You wish for some means to deal with survivors among the enemy, I presume?"
<Yomi> "Isn't it the best choice, when your other option appears to be killing them? I don't understand the side-effects you're alluding to, and frankly, it would probably be a waste if you explained those to me. But what do you think, knowing just what this is all about?"
<El-Cideon> "Well, if you're not very precise in instructing them what they should forget about, they may lose...other memories. Important ones. There's nothing I can give you to facilitate this, anyway. If there are survivors, notify me. They could be brought here, or I could send someone to you. It's not easy, either way."
* Yomi nods. "Once more, thank you. I expect I will need to rely on your generosity for this as well, once we have weathered the attack."
<El-Cideon> "Whatever I can do to help. I would very much like all of you to survive. And not just because I'm not very keen on going to Moscow myself," she adds with a smile.
<Yomi> "We'll do our best," Yomi promises, bowing in gratitude.
<El-Cideon> ~

<Erin> "...honestly! It is a new low!" complains Erin, as she and Suzume wander up the steps into the Lodge proper. "Sniping back and forth over who has the better illegal profession? Now, don't misunderstand me, I love Nadia like I would my own sister- no, more than my own sister- but really!"
<El-Cideon> "Do you have a sister, Erin?" Suzume wonders.
<Erin> "Yes. She is a horrible little troll and it shames me to have lived under the same roof."
<El-Cideon> "...Oh," Suzume says. "I always wanted a little sister, but I never got one. Anyway, I don't think you should take them so seriously. I'm not sure how much they mean anything they are saying. That's just how some friends talk to each other."
<Erin> "Oh- I know that, it's just- look, I'm sorry, Suzume," replies Erin, shaking her head. "I left my family as soon as I was old enough and never looked back, but I always did wish I had a nicer family."
<El-Cideon> "That's sad," Suzume says. "People should get try harder to get along with their families. Nothing's more important than blood, is it? Not that I'm criticizing you for your decisions or anything like that!" she adds hastily as you stroll through the main hall.
<Erin> "I know, I know. Do you think I should go back and see them? I haven't kept in touch for about a decade. Maybe Annie isn't quite so.. so.. vindictive..." mumbles Erin. "And you should give everyone a second chance, right?"
<El-Cideon> "Yes!" Well, almost everyone...but family is special. I can come with you if it would help. It was easier speaking to my parents knowing everyone outside as hoping for the best."
<Erin> "Yes. Maybe that would be nice. When we're done with all this, we can head over to Dublin and I'll see if I can track them down," replies Erin, heading to Grace's office.
<El-Cideon> Grace is reading over a glass of tea. "Hello again, Erin! Tea? I made plenty."
<Erin> "There's no time for tea, Grace! We're in serious trouble!" insists Erin, not even stopping to sit down. "Are Hazel and Lucia around? Paula?"
<El-Cideon> "What sort of trouble? Nazis again? Oh, well, Paula's hereabouts somewhere. Probably the library. One moment." She steps outside, flags down a passing initiate and tells him to bring Paula to the office. "I assume the others are at their hotel rooms. I can ring them up if you like." She steps to the desk, picks up her phone.
<Erin> "Please. Tell them I've got work for them," replies Erin, leaning against a wall and shaking her head.
<El-Cideon> "Of course." Grace dials the phone and makes conversation, twice in succession. One is brief and terse, the other prolonged and characterized by some irritation on Grace's part. "I don't know what it's about, just come over here and Erin will explain everything." She hangs up just about when Paula shows up.
<Erin> "Ah, hello, Paula. I'm just waiting for a couple of others to arrive, and then I will explain things. Well, no, it's quite simple- there is a band of ninjas that wants to kill us," says Erin, finding that no matter how deadly serious the situation, it simply doesn't register as anything but laughable when she speaks of it.
<El-Cideon> "Ninjas? Really?" Grace and Paula speak almost in synchronization here.
<Erin> "Really. Ninjas," replies Erin. "They have a grudge against us, due to- oh, hell, I can't even begin to explain," mutters Erin, finally drooping into a chair.
<El-Cideon> Eventually Lucia shows up. "So, what's this all about? Grace said something about a handyman job here the other day...but you all look a little too serious for that." Hazel shows up shortly thereafter. "I was starting to wonder if you had anything for me to do but sit around my hotel room."
<Erin> "I had really hoped I would not, but I do," replies Erin, turning her chair to face everyone. "We have a problem. A certain ninja clan- the Tsukinos, I think you'd know of them," she says, nodding at Lucia. "Have decided to target myself, Yomi, Rena and Nadia. They're here- in London, I believe, right now- and they're going to come after us. I'm asking what nobody should have to ask another-"
<Erin> "-that is, for you to help us, you know. Take them on."
<El-Cideon> "Ninjas?" Hazel says. "I get it. You think I'm stupid. What are we really talking about here?"
<El-Cideon> "I've heard of them," Lucia says, sitting on Grace's desk without so much as a by your leave.
<Erin> "Assassins? Violent thrillseekers? They can be called a lot of things," replies Erin. "Honestly, surely you've seen stranger things?"
<El-Cideon> "Yeah, well, I guess," Hazel admits, grudgingly.
<Erin> "Anyway. I know they're going to come in some numbers. We're planning on having a.. a.. a stakeout? In the old church. You know the one, Grace."
<El-Cideon> "Yes, I believe I do," Grace says with a nod.
<El-Cideon> "Just point me at whatever you need shot," Hazel says. "I'm supposed to follow your orders."
<El-Cideon> "I dunno," Lucia says. "I didn't really come all the way over here to jump in harm's way again. And they're only looking for you, right? I'm not sure this is my fight."
<Erin> Erin seems to be at a loss for words for a moment. "Anyway... yes. Yes. Oh, I'll pay you, Hazel, I can't let you do this for nothing. I can't even say it's the right thing to do, so I won't force you," mumbles Erin. "It's all because I let Hoshi live. No, it's all because I couldn't get her to see reason," she mutters.
<El-Cideon> "I've got money back home," Hazel says with a shrug. "Justine thinks she's in less danger while you're alive. That's why I'm here. Just tell me where to be."
<El-Cideon> Suzume speaks up. "Lucia, Hoshi might be with them! We know she's still alive. And she probably thinks we're both traitors now! If she finds you..."
<El-Cideon> "Fine, fine," Lucia says with a sigh. "Where are we going and when?"
<Erin> "This evening," replies Erin, subdued. "There's an old church- I'll give you the address. We haven't really decided on a time, but if you don't mind accompanying me for the day... ah, Paula? Will you help us?"
<El-Cideon> "Of course. You saved me from my enemy, after all. I'm obliged to return the favor." She smiles. "And the world would be a bit worse off without you in it."
<Erin> "Ah.. thanks so much. Um.. I don't have much else to add. We'll talk about it when everyone else is here. Would you all mind carrying these with you? We use them to communicate," says Erin, doling out small red marbles.
<El-Cideon> Everyone nods in agreement--there don't seem to be any immediate questions, at least.
<Erin> "If you go out to the atrium, I'll be with you all in a moment," adds Erin, kind of sort of wanting everyone to get out the room so she can have a word with Grace.
<El-Cideon> Everyone shuffles out, leaving Erin alone with Grace for the time being.
<Erin> "I don't know why it had to come to this," explains Erin, dropping her head onto the desk. "It's going to be a bloodbath, I know it. I don't know if I should be happy that people are willing to help us fight, or guilty, or- ugh."
<El-Cideon> "I know you'll do your best to avoid unnecessary killing, Erin," Grace says softly. "I wish there was more we could do directly...we are hardly a military organization, nor do I wish us to be one. I can only advise you to hang on to your remorse, whatever happens. It's part of what makes you who you are."
<Erin> "That's just not good enough!" replies Erin, clamping her hands down on the desk. "I can't just accept that people will die, and it's okay because I'll be sorry later! I could've stopped this if I'd just been able to make that stupid bitch realise what an idiot she is- urgh!" (More)
<Erin> "I can't let this happen again. There's got to be something in there, some magic that can take out the part of people's minds that makes them so hateful. Did you ever come across anything like that?"
<El-Cideon> Grace sighs. "Historically, it's certainly suggested that there are such abilities. They're obscure...and frowned upon. Yes, I'm aware that killing is odious in its own right. But I worry that you're starting yourself down a terrible path when being to reshape people, by force, into what you want them to be."
<Erin> "I wouldn't do it to just anyone. I'm not some tyrant. I just want to stop people getting hurt. It's hard. Hurting people," adds Erin, looking up. "They'd be happier if they didn't feel compelled to do that sort of thing. I really think that."
<El-Cideon> "Perhaps. I have always thought it important people be made to change themselves, through discussion, contemplation, meditation. I only want you to consider the risks of what you're contemplating. When you remove someone's ability to decide for themselves who they are...No choice they make truly matters again."
<Erin> "In the eyes of the law, they wouldn't be permitted to make any choices for these sorts of crimes. It's.. preferable, this way. If there's no other way. Can you look into it for me?"
<El-Cideon> Grace sighs. "I'll see what I can do."
<Erin> "God, did we really finish all that wine?" asks Erin, standing up. "I could sure use a drink... ugh. I'm sorry, Grace. I'll try and be a bit better when I get back."
<El-Cideon> "I'll have another bottle waiting. Good luck, Erin."
<El-Cideon> ~