227.4 Alicia

[Corwin]

[22:16] <Kotono> The walk home is without incident. Mostly. Dawnhope takes in Balmuria, fluttering about and chatting to random people asyou pass. Then again, gawks and looks aren't really that unusual for Alicia. As you get close to your house, about a block away, "Interesting city. So what do you do here when you're not giving Hell the old one-two?"
[22:19] <Alicia> "Well, there's plenty of mortal villains to fight. Then there's exploring ancient ruins and uncovering forbidden mysteries, that's always good for a laugh... or mind-shattering trauma, depending on what day it is," Alicia's mood switches from jovial banter to impending depression rather quickly.
[22:19] <Alicia> She tries to shake it off, knowing that she just accomplished something wonderful this very day, the eladrin being pure proof of that, but it's hard - her focus is shot all to hell right now, pun not intended. "I write a lot, not that it matters since no one ever reads it..." she goes on as her mood continues to plummet.
[22:21] <Kotono> "Oh, you right?" Smiling now, "Reading can be fun! Can I read what you wrote?" As you get closer to home, Dawhope settles for flying in front of you. "C'mon, I bet you're a pretty good writer! How about me and that Marielle spend some time reading your stuff?"
[22:24] <Alicia> Approaching within a mile at least allows Alicia to pick up on Marie's mood, which seems cheerful for a moment as her familiar presumably gets confirmation that she's safe, then concerned as she picks up on Alicia's depression. However, the brief surge of happiness gives Alicia's own mood a kick towards the nicer spectrum.
[22:24] <Alicia> "You probably wouldn't be interested," she blushes and waves it off, smiling nonetheless. "It's all magical theory and combat tactics, that sort of thing."
[22:25] <Kotono> "I'm always interested!" Nodding along, "After all, with all those devils, you have to learn to fight!" Flapping behind Alicia and pushing lightly on her head, "C'mon, hurry up! I wanna read it now!"
06[22:27] * Alicia laughs easily and lets herself be pushed along, almost sensing a mental shrug from her familiar. "Oh, you're interested in that? Marie could give you tips - she's a really good archer."
[22:30] <Kotono> Pushed along, you reach home. Inside, you find Marie, Jessica and Antenora all waiting. Jessica wears an apron, stained with flour. Antenora wears her armor and is a bit sweaty, her wings twitch-flapping behind her. She has a cloth, using it to wipe down her forehead. "Alicia!" "Sis!" Greeting hit them both.
[22:30] <Alicia> "You're late!" is Marie's greeting, although she's smiling anyway.
[22:30] <Kotono> "Oh, your'e Marielle!" Dawnhope comes forward, "Nice to meet you! I'm Dawnhope! Alicia got me out of Hell so I thought I'd drop bye."
[22:30] <Kotono> Antenora frowns a little bit, "Alicia? Where were you, anyway?"
06[22:31] * Alicia waves to the group. "Had a bit more trouble than expected, but I'm safe as you can see," she even does a classy little pirouette. "Not a scratch on me!"
[22:31] <Alicia> "Oh, you were kept in that horrible place?" Marie flutters over to her counterpart, giving her a friendly eladrin hug. "It must've been horrible for you!"
[22:32] <Kotono> Hugging Marie back, "Oh, it was, it was! Those devils are terrible hosts!"
06[22:32] * Alicia laughs a little. "And they say I can't rhyme..." she mutters under her breath.
[22:33] <Kotono> "Really," Antenora says, obvious tensenses in her voice. With stiff posture, her back fully straight, "Alright then." Antenora nods curtly, slipping away and out of the room.
[22:33] <Kotono> "Oh, you're in such a good mood, sister," Jessica trots over, "Sit down, I'll have some fresh bread ready soon."
[22:33] <Alicia> "I can just imagine!" Marie nods as she parts from the other coure. "You're..." she briefly gives Alicia funny look then just shakes it off and returns her attention to the eladrin, "You're safe now, at least."
[22:34] <Kotono> "Yep!" Nodding, "I promised Alicia I'd read some of her writing. Say, how about the both of us do that? Maybe over some of that bread and something nice to drink? It'll be fun!"
[22:34] <Alicia> "I'm actually not," Alicia abruptly deflates. "Things didn't go according to plan at all!" she moans disconsolately, leaning on her sister. "Hey... what's wrong with Antenora?" she asks quietly before just yelling, "Antenora!" she waves at the erinyes' back, "You look upset! What's wrong?"
[22:35] <Kotono> "I don't know, she was out back practicing," Jessica replies as she looks as well. Antenora didn't particularly linger, already out of the room.
[22:36] <Kotono> "Well, you did fine," Dawnhope speaks up, "What's with her? Weren't those bat wings? Is she some sort of freaky succubus? That's...I'm worried now. Was that one?"
[22:37] <Alicia> "Awww, I hope she's not angry because I brought another eladrin home..." Alicia pouts.
[22:37] <Alicia> "She's an erinyes, but don't worry! She's reformed!" Marie reassures her new friend.
[22:37] <Alicia> "Also... um, Alicia?" Marie looks askance at her mistress, "I didn't want to say anything, but... you're acting really odd. Are you sure you're alright?"
[22:38] <Kotono> "An erinyes...reformed? Wow." Scratching the side of it's head, "I'd heard that fiends can rise in theory, but I'd never seen one. Then again, you got me out of that Hall, so you're way above average. But anyway, she's acting fine! I'm rubbing off on her, that's all."
[22:38] <Kotono> "Alicia," Jessica frowns, "Come, let's sit and have something ot eat." She glances at Marie as well, briefly.
[22:40] <Alicia> "Oh, you should've seen me earlier!" Alicia blurts out, whirling on Marie. "I got poisoned down there and couldn't even string two sentences together!" She flounces over to sit down.
[22:40] <Alicia> "Seira got me a potion to fix some of the damage - she's such a sweetheart - but I'm still a bit loopy." She then eyes Marie suspiciously, "It got worse when I could sense your feelings," then as Marie starts to fidget nervously the paladin grins, "But your natural cheeriness brought me out of a bad mood, so I forgive you!"
[22:41] <Kotono> "See? That's the idea!" Dawnhope flutters along with Alicia.
[22:41] <Alicia> "Uh huh..." Marie flutters back a little. "Well, you're home now, so you can relax and settle down?" It's odd, as much as she always wanted a more expressive Alicia, it just feels so off that she can't appreciate it very much.
[22:42] <Kotono> Jessica sends Alicia another look, going to the kitchen and fetching a steaming loaf of bread. "You've been a little quiet lately," she observes.
[22:42] <Kotono> "Right," Dawnhope goes over to the bread, sniffing. "Can I have some, and another bit ot take out? I wanna meet that erinyes now. It's not going to hurt me or anything, is she?"
[22:43] <Alicia> "Just yell if she threatens to eat you," Marie advises, still watching Alicia.
06[22:43] * Alicia finds her mood instantly souring, which is reflected by the depressed expression on her face. "I don't wanna talk about it," she huffs.
[22:44] <Kotono> Jessica slices off bits of bread, passing them over to Dawnhope, who flutters off with them. Then she makes a big couple of slices for Alicia, then goes and gets a bit of water to go with it. "Come on, Sis," Jessica sits next to her. "Tell Sis all about it."
[22:44] <Kotono> "Right," Dawnhope calls back from outside.
[22:47] <Alicia> "You'll think I'm a horrible person," Alicia warns.
[22:47] <Alicia> "No we won't!" Marie blurts out. "I was there and I don't think any less of you!"
[22:48] <Kotono> "Oh, you're a fine person, Alicia!" Jessica pats her arm, going to lightly hug her. "Just tell me and Marie. Keeping secrets isn't healthy when they're bothering you. They'll sour into nasty things, things that beings like Shar take advantage of."
06[22:51] * Alicia can't really refute it, just leaning on her sister instead. "When we were in that forest in Pallanth, looking for the Fourth Resort, it was being guarded by a wizard with powers over time..."
[22:51] <Alicia> "I don't know if such things are possible, but it seemed real, and he was able to see past the protections of the Ring of Eternal Celerity, so perhaps they were, for him... He tried to convince us to give up before we faced him."
[22:52] <Kotono> "Go on," Jessica holds Alicia closer, "What did he do?"
[22:53] <Kotono> Meanwhile, Dawnhope flutters in, a bit wide eyed. He doesn't say a word, but settles in besides Alicia, gnawing on a bit of bread.
[22:53] <Alicia> "He offered to send me back, to before Hans and Felix were killed... so I could stop it from happening," Alicia explains as Marie settles on her lap. "Even showed me what would've happened if I'd been there at the time..."
[22:54] <Kotono> "Oh Alicia..." Bowing her head as she goes quiet for a few moments, "You're beating yourself up inside over it, aren't you?" Jessica whispers to her, "Did he torment you with that?"
[22:56] <Alicia> "I refused, obviously..." Alicia leans on Jessica as she haltingly speaks. "I couldn't, I just... I didn't know if it was even real, what if it was just some trick to trap me in a fake illusion? But..." she clenches her fists, "I don't think he was lying... even at the time I didn't think that."
[22:58] <Kotono> "So?" Jessica smiles, "The past is the past. It's about living in the now and the future. Even if you ran off into that dream, what about us? You're my sister and I need you. Antenora thinks the world ofyou and she needs you. Everyone in the city thinks you're nearly a Goddess and they want and need you. I know you can't compare it to that, but...you can't go back and dwell on the past forever, can you?"
[22:58] <Kotono> .you can't go back and dwell on the past forever, can you?"
[23:00] <Kotono> "I don't really follow all of this," Dawnhope speaks up, "But I'm really glad you were here to get me out of that Hall, instead off in some illusion or whatever it was!"
06[23:04] * Alicia snorts. "Either way I'm abandoning someone... you're right, I'd have regretted leaving this life behind." Massaging her forehead, she goes on, "It's just... it's a choice no one should have to make, it's like they were dying all over again..." She barely even notices Dawnhope's return, so wrapped up in her angst.
[23:05] <Kotono> "It wasn't, but you made it. Don't let the guilt from it ruin what you chose, okay?" Jessica smiles brighter, "If you need to feel sad, do that. If you need to cry, do that. But mourn and move on."
[23:06] <Kotono> "Alternately, get it out of your system by having a lot of wild fun? Live in the moment for a little while?" Dawnhope continues, between bites of bread.
[23:07] <Kotono> Almost laughing, "That comes later, but yes, it's a part of things. I think. I'm usually pretty happy."
[23:07] <Kotono> OOC: Gah.
[23:07] <Kotono> Almost laughing, "That comes later, but yes, it's a part of things. I think. I'm usually pretty happy." Jessica looks to Dawnhope and then Alicia, trying not to smile. "That's how it goes in books."
[23:08] <Alicia> Nodding to her sister, Alicia does sniffle just a little, but tears don't flow - her eyes are still somewhat dry from crying away all that poison clogging them earlier, anyway. Deciding to change the subject, she looks at the new eladrin, "You and Antenora didn't get along, I take it?" she asks, putting on a smile.
[23:08] <Kotono> "I think she wanted to be alone, um..." Looking down, "I won't repeat what she said, but it was really rude. Sure, I might taste good with garlic, but I'd rather have someone my size find that out!"
[23:09] <Kotono> Keeping Alicia close to her, "Yes, she may not be feeling social. She's running cold today, it happens." Jessica's smile tones down, lips relaxing. "Catch her in a better mood later."
[23:10] <Alicia> Marie and Alicia both snicker at Dawnhope's joke, although Alicia asks, "Is she mad I didn't bring her along earlier today?"
[23:10] <Kotono> "I don't know," Dawnhope shrugs. "I didn't ask."
[23:11] <Kotono> Jessica shrugs again, "I don't know, either. I've been either ar Roald's or in the kitchen today. I said hello to her this morning, that was it."
[23:13] <Alicia> "I'll go talk to her," Alicia decides, lifting herself up to her feet. "Since you've all gotten me to talk about what's bothering me I might as well pay it forward."
[23:14] <Kotono> "Right," Jessica smiles brightly now, "Come back when you're done."
06[23:15] * Alicia nods, snagging up a slice of bread and chewing on it as she heads out the back.
[23:15] <Kotono> You find Antenora outside. She's staring off into the sky, secluded in the shadows of the house and the fence.
06[23:17] * Alicia goes to lean on the fence near Antenora. "What's wrong?" she asks bluntly before kicking herself. She normally does far better, but she's still not firing on all mental cylinders. Oh well, maybe direct will work?
[23:18] <Kotono> Antenora doesn't turn to look at Alicia, though her arms cross over her chest. "You could have taken me with you, you know. Instead of going with how many people into a fortified stronghold in Hell?"
[23:22] <Alicia> "I wanted to sneak in and out without them having a clue, not fight a mass battle," Alicia explains. "Next time - and there will be a next time - I'll want you there, since I won't pull the same trick twice."
[23:22] <Alicia> She steps closer, putting a hand on Antenora's shoulder, "And there's no one I'd rather have at my side in a real fight," she concludes. At least her sincere charm hasn't been hampered by her fuzzy thinking.
[23:24] <Kotono> "Alicia, what happened if you made a mistake? What happens if a devil got in a lucky shot?" Not reacting ot the touch at all, "If I'm there, at least I can die happy knowing that I did everything I could to prevent it. If you'd fallen and vanished deep into the Pit, I'd never live it down. Never."
06[23:28] * Alicia frowns at that. "You might be happy with some grand storybook sacrifice, but not me," she retorts, hand dropping away. "Having us both die isn't any better than one of us dying just because it suits some noble ideal. If I had died down there I'd be a lot happier knowing that you were safe than knowing that I'd damned us both."
[23:29] <Kotono> "Do you think they'd just let you die down there?" Antenora stiffens up again, "You'd be LUCKY if all that happened is that you were on display in that damned Hall. Martinet...he'd have the powre to make sure you end up in Nessus instead of passing on, or his master would. Dammit, do you think your soul is something to gamble so uncaringly?"
[23:33] <Alicia> That actually stings. "It's not a gamble," Alicia replies fiercely. "You've been right here, Antenora - you were there when we went to study the defences, you've seen me working on new spells specifically so I could pull this off, you know I've bought magic items specifically for how they'd be used in this one goal!
[23:33] <Alicia> "This was built upon months of work and preparation, not some... whimsical dart toss!" she honestly looks quite aggrieved, feelings showing plain on her face. "You can call it a risk, but don't you dare say that it was some half-assed scheme I pulled out of my ass and rode through on luck alone!"
03[23:34] * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
[23:43] <Kotono> "There's still chances! You saw how tightly that new caretaker had things set! There's no way at all it was going to be easy and you know it!" Snapping back now, whirling to turn with eyes and a face locked in a furious grimace, "It was a risk you didn't have to take! You KNOW oblivion is the best you can pray for if they beat you there! Even as strong as all we are, do you think we can save you from the depths of the Pit? Even if we did, b
[23:43] <Kotono>  Even as strong as all we are, do you think we can save you from the depths of the Pit? Even if we did, by then, there might not be anything left worth saving!"
[23:47] <Ebiris> "You're wrong, Antenora," Alicia replies tightly. "I had to take it. It doesn't matter what defences they have or how badly they can hurt me, that place is an abomination, and I won't rest until every damned soul is freed from it!" she insists passionately. "This life isn't easy, but it's what I chose!"

[Corwin]

[20:10] <HelicopterKo> <Alicia> "This was built upon months of work and preparation, not some... whimsical dart toss!" she honestly looks quite aggrieved, feelings showing plain on her face. "You can call it a risk, but don't you dare say that it was some half-assed scheme I pulled out of my ass and rode through on luck alone!"
[20:10] <HelicopterKo> * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
[20:10] <HelicopterKo> > "There's still chances! You saw how tightly that new caretaker had things set! There's no way at all it was going to be easy and you know it!" Snapping back now, whirling to turn with eyes and a face locked in a furious grimace, "It was a risk you didn't have to take! You KNOW oblivion is the best you can pray for if they beat you there! Even as strong as all we are, do you think we can save you from the depths of the Pit? Even if w
[20:11] <HelicopterKo> >  Even as strong as all we are, do you think we can save you from the depths of the Pit? Even if we did, by then, there might not be anything left worth saving!"
[20:11] <HelicopterKo> <Ebiris> "You're wrong, Antenora," Alicia replies tightly. "I had to take it. It doesn't matter what defences they have or how badly they can hurt me, that place is an abomination, and I won't rest until every damned soul is freed from it!" she insists passionately. "This life isn't easy, but it's what I chose!"
[20:12] <HelicopterKo> "Not like that!" Antenora's voice rises several octaves, becoming a near shout. "You don't need to go into Baator by yourself! How many have gone in and never come back! Do you want to be one, Alicia? DO YOU? You chose this life, but like hell if you have to go it alone!"
[20:17] <HelicopterKo> *decibels
06[20:20] * Alicia flinches a bit both at the volume and content of Antenora's speech. "Of course I don't want that!" she insists. "But It's a managable risk - I wasn't just jumping in half-cocked, I went in there with a plan that minimised the danger as much as possible. If I was bringing along others, the risk would've increased beyond my ability to easily cover."
[20:23] <HelicopterKo> "Then don't leave me next time!" Antenora steps forward. "Alicia,  no matter how much you minimise it, the danger is always going to be real. Please, for everyone's sake," Looking away and lowering her voice, before breathing in and out with shaking shoulders, "Do you want Jessica crying at your grave?"
[20:29] <Alicia> Such emotional blackmail! Oddly, Alicia is proud in some small respect that Antenora's developed her conversational skills thus far. Not too fun being on the receiving end, though. "I can promise that, at least," she allows, "Since next time will require a completely different approach. Look..." she turns around to lean on the wall next to the erinyes,
[20:29] <Alicia> "It's not that I don't appreciate your concern, really, don't take it that way. But I worked really hard on this, for a long time, and you need to have some respect for my planning skills."
[20:32] <HelicopterKo> "Alicia, I have all the respect in the world for your skill." With a grim smile, "I have as much respect for what Hell will do if they get a clean shot at you on in Hell." Wiping at an eye a moment, "Alicia...just don't make any plans alone again. Two stand a fighting chance even if something happens to you."
[20:36] <Alicia> It may be a hard promise to keep, but she just sounds so desperate... Alicia can't withstand it. "Alright, I won't," she relents. "Anyway, now that we've cleared that up, I think I'll finish dinner then turn in early. Even if none of them managed to scratch me, I did wear myself out quite badly."
[20:38] <HelicopterKo> Antenora smiles ever so slightly. "Thank you." With slumping posture and shoulders, "Take care of yourself. Don't get so wrapped up in doing the right thing that you lose track of that. You'll do more if you're steady for a year than you'll do in a week of frenzy."
06[20:41] * Alicia chuckles, a melancholy sound. "Reminds me of that story I used to tell Felix, about the tortoise and the hare," she admits. "Anyway, do you want to join us for dinner before I turn in?"
[20:42] <HelicopterKo> "N-" Antenora starts, before she cuts herself off. Instead, "Yes, let's go have dinner. No matter what, we should celebrate a success."
06[20:43] * Alicia rewards the erinyes with a beaming smile, before leading her back in to join the others.
[20:45] <HelicopterKo> "By the way," Antenora falls in step with Alicia, pausing. "Another one? Really?"
06[20:47] * Alicia has the good grace to blush. "She was one of the ones that Beth and I released the first time, but was 'killed' when Agares struck me down. Felt like I owed her, since it only happened because she was trying to protect me."
[20:49] <HelicopterKo> "Ah. Still...aren't there any cute lantern archons out there?" With an overdrawn sigh, "I think they're cuter the coure, anyway."
[20:50] <Alicia> "Certainly more innocent," Alicia is compelled to agree.
[20:52] <HelicopterKo> "Yes," Rubbing her forehead, "I do wonder if Marie ist just a bad seed, though."
06[20:53] * Alicia recalls Dawnhope's blunt comment after her conversation with Antenora. "No... if anything I might think she's more reserved than is typical for her type."
[20:54] <HelicopterKo> Antenora stops cold, rubbing her temple slowly. "You know...nevermind. Let's just go and hope you're wrong."
[20:57] <Alicia> "It makes sense when you think about it," Alicia continues undeterred. "She says she used to work for an archon before me, and she lives on a less chaotic plane of existence..."
[20:57] <HelicopterKo> "You know what?" Antenora stops in front of the door inside, "How about we go have dinner somewhere else? I'll treat you."
[21:01] <Alicia> "Oh, come on!" Alicia pats Antenora on the back, "Didn't you have fun in Arvandor? I know you can get along well with them when you let yourself relax!"
[21:02] <HelicopterKo> "I'd rather have funw ith just you," Antenora mutters, going to open the door as she slumps down.
[21:04] <Alicia> "We'll go do something fun together tomorrow, promise!" Alicia assures the grumpy erinyes as they finally rejoin her sister and the two coure.
[21:09] <HelicopterKo> "I'll hold you to that," Antenora says, as the two go in to meet the bridages of cute pixie chaos.
[21:09] <HelicopterKo> ---
[21:09] <Alicia> roll 1d4
06[21:09] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 and gets 4." [1d4=4]
[22:00] <HelicopterKo> ---