073: Here comes the sun

[Sierra]

<El-Cideon> Days pass as Rosemund's talents and the party's newly-acquired transportation are jointly leveraged to ferry Whitsunhold's inhabitants to a safe retirement on Arcadia. Marina also begs transport back home for a time to catch up on whatever mischief her familiar might've got up to during her absence--not to mention rest to recover her sanity before the party invites her along for anything else as potentially horrific as Whitsunhold's lower floors. Thus it's mostly a genuine homecoming for those riding back to Amaranth's environs on the ship--plus one wayward shadow with nowhere else evidently to be. It is early in the day when you pop back into existence on the material plane in the forests outside town, the faint chill of a mild spring morning in the air.
<Steph> "I'm gonna go check in with Thela," notes Steph, skipping off the deck. "Are you guys coming with?"
<Julia> "I had better ensure my familiar hasn't gotten into any trouble, and store Bedford, but after that certainly," Julia offers.
<El-Cideon> Rosemund, with an air of resignation, dons her hat once again and resumes her "normal" appearance.
<Franceska> "Yes, I suppose it would be the first thing to do," Franceska muses, peering at Alice. "Do you mind staying here with the ship for the time being?" she asks her. "I can leave Darrin here to keep you company."
<El-Cideon> "We can stop by the tower first," Rosemund says, steering the ship over treetops.
<El-Cideon> In response, Alice sits down crosslegged and adopts a meditative aspect.
<Franceska> "That sounds like a yes to me," Franceska decides, nodding at Darrin who flies to take a perch on the mast.
<El-Cideon> The sun slips above the horizon just in time for the group to arrive at Julia's remote retreat. Nothing obviously horrible has transpired in her absence this time, at least to judge from the exterior.
<El-Cideon> "It is very quiet out here," Rosemund observes. "Growing up in the city, I became used to hearing people out and about at all hours. It will be a comfort to sleep in my own bed once again!"
<Steph> "I'm gonna stay at dad's. We better do our shopping too."
<Julia> First she needs to take Bedford into the main hall which is going to be excessively cramped with both his and Battersby's presence in there. Assuming nothing seems out of place she'll collect her familiar and go see Thela with Stephanie. "Yes, all the food's probably gone bad," she says resignedly.
<Franceska> "I suppose it would, though I would suggest that you stay with me all the same, Rosemund," Franceska muses. "Or, if you simply must stay home, I will stay over."
<El-Cideon> The main hall is even more cramped than Julia might expect, given that Thing is presently attempting to coordinate the herd of cat skeletons into climbing one upon the other to collectively form some manner of sculpture--what it is meant to be isn't immediately clear, one might catch the impression of a towering, mocking and/or awestruck recreation of his master's form, but the structure collapses the moment the little demon diverts his attention to the new arrivals. He wilts visibly as the hall echoes with the clattering of thousands of tiny bones. "Back too early. Wasn't finished yet," Thing grumbles.
<Julia> "Oh, I'm sorry Thing," Julia says, genuinely meaning it in the face of his blossoming artistic endeavours. "I'll just leave Bedford here, you can make sure he and Battersby get acquainted and then I'll leave you to your art. I have a few errands I'll need to take care of around town for the next couple of hours."
<El-Cideon> Thing sulks and goes about the painstaking task of reassembling a horde of cat skeletons from the pile of mingled bones.
<El-Cideon> Rosemund shudders quietly back onboard the ship, deigning not to dignify vocally the familiar's activities. "There is nothing wrong with me staying at home, is there?" she asks Franceska. "Are you worried that someone will come looking for us?"
<Julia> That all done, Julia goes to rejoin her hearty comrades!
<Steph> "If you're worried about that, you could stay with my dad? He's pretty obscure," notes Stephanie. "I don't think he'd be linked back to me that fast."
<Franceska> "Always. In any case, I will simply have to stay in your guest room."
<El-Cideon> "I am not worried about that!" Rosemund insists. "It will be a relief to sleep in my own bed again. You are welcome to use the guest room--the house will feel less empty that way."
<Franceska> "Of course."
<El-Cideon> Setting the ship down in a convenient glade outside of town to stroll in more discreetly on foot, the group arrives back home in time to catch Amaranth's markets bustling on a brisk morning. Trees are full of green again, flowers are in bloom, and it's altogether an affirming spectacle of life renewed after spending no doubt more time than desired on the plane of death. The party finds Thela in her shop as usual, in the back going over her books. As per the norm, she has her own hat of disguise in place to render her less threatening in appearance to the locals.
<Steph> "Hello, my favourite elf in the whole wide worlds!" sings Stephanie, skipping into the shop.
* Franceska scowls at Stephanie.
<El-Cideon> Thela closes up her book. She looks mildly sleepy. "I should not feel too proud given the competition, but I shall endeavor to take the compliment for what it was meant," she says.
<Franceska> "A valid point," Franceska grudgingly agrees. "How have things been here recently? Decently quiet?"
<El-Cideon> "Satisfactorily so," Thela says. Then, reaching into a desk drawer, she adds, "I believe that I have found what you requested, after perhaps undue time and effort." She places a clear, fist-sized gem on the table.
<Steph> Stephanie beams at her, and reaches over to take it.
<Franceska> Despite her better judgement, Franceska pokes at the gem.
<El-Cideon> A brief examination of the gem displays people and places now familiar to you--Ashpile, the oppressive dark of the negative energy plane--in addition to an overwhelming variety of forest and city scenes, performances before a dizzying multitude of crowds, and a brief glimpse of a metallic castle where no angles seem to line up upon each other quite the way they should.
<Steph> Stephanie jerks her hand away a moment, before retrieving the stone and depositing it into her pocket. "Excellent! Pretty sure this is correct. Did you have much trouble in retrieving it, then?"
<Franceska> "And any chance you discovered just why they were keeping the memories stored in a gem?"
<Julia> "Oh? Is that Brijid's memory stone?" Julia asks, leaning over. "Goodness, that must have been hard to find!"
<Steph> Stephanie retrieves it again, willing to give Julia her chance at invading Brigid's private memories.
<El-Cideon> She nods to Julia. "Eventually, I recognized her brother," she explains. The weary drow in disguise puts her business face on. "Would there be objection to my selling the lode of cast-offs I had to wade through to find this? As curios I think they should garner attention and decent prices, and I would think it only appropriate compensation for the late nights I put in finding this."
<Julia> "Ahh, no thank you. My own life is hard enough to keep track of as it is," Julia demurs from adding more memories to the mix.
<El-Cideon> "As for Franceska's question," Thela adds, "from what little I saw, the illithid worked in some servile capacity for the crystal dragon. Perhaps it served some mutual interest." She shrugs. "I've little interest in prying into the perverse whims of such creatures."
<Steph> Stephanie purses her lips. "I'll buy them from you," she offers.
<El-Cideon> Thela raises an eyebrow. "Oh yes? Well, that saves me some effort. I've hundreds of them, you know. The lot wouldn't go cheaply."
<Steph> "Well... maybe that was hasty." Stephanie clucks her tongue. "Can you hold onto them for a while for me? I have some ideas for them. Like opening an exhibit instead of scattering them all over."
<El-Cideon> "Mm. Of course. They're hardly perishable goods, insofar as I am aware." The dark elf is silent in thought for a moment before adding, "While you are here, there is something I'd thought to ask your assistance with."
<Steph> "Sure! Personal or business?"
<El-Cideon> "It may have impact upon business," she admits. "I have made generous contributions to your local church of the sun god with an eye towards securing their approval should I find it safe to drop my disguise and live here openly as I am. Might I count on a character recommendation on your behalf should the endorsement of native born citizens look to be a necessary helpful influence?"
<Steph> "Yes, for what it's worth from us," replies Stephanie, with a morbid grin. "Actually, we might be able to do one better and get some of the bona-fide national heroes to give you a recommendation. The Alcembron's themselves, for example- we did locate her brother while we were gone."
<El-Cideon> Thela raises an eyebrow. "I would not count upon their recommendation. Especially the brother's. I should remind you he was a slave under my care for some time before I sent him home to serve under my family, whom I gather handled him roughly. I conclude that my past mercantile endeavors are not greatly in accord with local values," Thela admits with academic precision. "I think it unsound to advertise them."
<Julia> "But we're practically heroes anyway," Julia adds in breezily.
<Franceska> "It would be prudent on your part to wait until a few things resolve," Franceska says curtly.
<Steph> Stephanie winces. "Yes, of course... well... no? We did great things. Just not around here." She shrugs. "But we're in good with the Church of Pelor, so we can put a word in..."
<El-Cideon> "Yes, I would think your recommendation quite helpful in securing acceptance," Thela concludes. "And I do grow tired of this disguise. A woman can only insist upon wearing her hat during intercourse so many times before even the dullest man grows suspicious. Ah, as to that--" she nods to Stephanie, "--I must admit that your past advice has proved fruitful. I should never have thought my ears my most attractive attribute, but that is the strange world in which I now live."
<El-Cideon> An embarrassed Rosemund examines her feet while refraining from all comment in quite obligatory fashion.
* Franceska finds it somewhat impressive that she manage to insist on a hat even once, never mind enough to cause suspicion.
<Steph> "W, well, of course! I know all there is to know about what men around here like! Ahahaha!"
<El-Cideon> Thela looks dubious, but concedes, "We must exchange notes sometime."
<Julia> Julia just looks thoughtful as she ponders the mental images now provided. "Can't you change what the hat looks like as well?"
<Franceska> "A hairpin, perhaps?"
<Steph> "Oh, well, yes, but what if he wants to, um, brush your hair?"
<Franceska> "Tie him up."
<Steph> "That's what you're into?"
<El-Cideon> "Oh, that's a matter of course," Thela says dismissively to Franceska.
<Steph> "That's what *you're* into?"
<Franceska> "Then your problems are solved for the time being."
<El-Cideon> "Only if they prove willful," Thela says with a shrug.
<Steph> "Um. And you're worried about them being suspicious of you? I think you'll be fine. For a long time to come."
<El-Cideon> "And I intend to live for a very long time," she affirms. "I think sometime I will indeed speak to your sun priest. I will mention your endorsement if he proves dubious."
<Steph> "I'll write you a letter!"
<Franceska> "An endorsement from me would likely do you little good, but you can count on my services with the law, if it ever comes to that, just as we discussed."
<Steph> "Let's catch up more this evening, we've still got people to see, but I wanna drink with you," offers Stephanie, bounding to her feet. "Thanks again for your work! I'll definitely make it have been worth your while."
<El-Cideon> Thela nods and goes back to her business. Across town, in a secluded garret, they find time to drop in on another odd resident repatriated through their efforts. The undead painter has been tireless in his efforts in a manner only possible for the unnaturally animated and perpetually sleepless. Sketches of cityscapes paper the walls of his room--cafes, taverns, theatergoers, and other renditions of city nightlife comprise his present artistic concern, it seems. The work in progress at time of your arrival is shaping up to be a boisterous tableaux of local lushes being forcibly ejected from a grogshop at closing time.
* Franceska carefully make sure to keep someone directly between herself and the zombie painter, of course.
<Steph> "Good day," says Stephanie, inadvertently falling into that role. "Gosh, you've been busy," she remarks. "I think the mayor might like these in his office."
<Julia> "Very lifelike," Julia agrees, looking at the painting and recognising a few of the lushes.
<Franceska> "How do you manage that?" Franceska asks curiously.
<El-Cideon> "I find it imprudent to mingle in daylight hours," Allister says, "so I may only recreate the city's nocturnal existence. If not always the most virtuous, it does boast an undeniable vitality." To Franceska, he simply says drily, "Considerable practice."
<Steph> "Is there anything you'd like? We've, er, come into a windfall lately, and I'd like to do something for you!"
<El-Cideon> "What had you in mind to offer? I've little more to desire now than novel things and novel beings to capture for posterity." He stands up and shuffles toward a covered work in the corner of the room.
<Franceska> "You could draw our dead queen in all her glory?"
<Steph> "She's certainly a novel being..."
<Julia> "Oh yes, she takes well to art," Julia nods, remembering she needs to put that statue somewhere nice.
<El-Cideon> "A not unfamiliar practice," he admits, "albeit I was usually asked to portray monarchs in the full bloom of life. Will I have reference for this work, or am I simply to copy official renditions?" While speaking, he maneuvers the covered painting onto an easel in the center of the room.
<Franceska> "You will have to make do with the full bloom of unlife," Franceska mutters.
<Steph> "You'd have to travel."
<Julia> "I have a statue, but we could take you to see her for yourself. I don't think undead are discriminated against in Azure."
<Franceska> "So long as you don't eat people."
<El-Cideon> "Whyever would I do that?" he wonders with genuine confusion to Franceska's statement. "I am not averse to visiting other places. Ah, but in the meantime, I have been continuing my homage to your little band of heroes," he says, preparing to unveil the painting.
<Steph> "Oho!" It's what she really came for!
<Franceska> "You must understand that I just spent quite a lot of time in the plane of death where the undead were doing just that," Franceska says in what might constitute an apology if one is generous.
<Julia> "But the true villain was CLANKTRON I think we can all agree," Julia says in defence of undead-kind.
<Franceska> "No, it was really the demons originally in charge."
<Steph> "That poor robot was constructed to suffer. Like a baby born into evil, it had no real choice."
<El-Cideon> This month's subject is Rosemund. The artist's propensity to portray his subjects in the nude is as respectful as possible to the habitually shy priestess, but there is nonetheless as little left to the imagination in this regard as usual. Rosemund is portrayed as a luminous being adrift high in the sky. Beaming with beatific smile, she cradles the sun in a loving embrace and implores its rays to shine down upon a blasted landscape which, under her benevolent influence, begins to sprout green with new life. "Queen of Rebirth," Allister provides as the title.
<Julia> "I suppose we're all a product of our environments..." Julia sighs sadly.
<El-Cideon> "Er, thank you," Rosemund manages with a blush.
* Franceska peers closer at the portrait.
<Julia> "Awww, it's lovely!" Julia quickly shifts to happiness on seeing this new work of art.
<El-Cideon> "Do not look so closely!" Rosemund admonishes Franceska.
<Franceska> "Why not?"
<Steph> "You'll go blind!"
<El-Cideon> "Well, I suppose that it depends on what bits you are looking closely at," Rosemund is forced to admit.
* Franceska tilts her head. "I admit I was thinking that given how you are, this would be my one chance to admire the painting."
<El-Cideon> Allister transfers the painting to Rosemund's ownership. "I am not sure where I should put it," she admits.
<Franceska> "Your bedroom?"
<El-Cideon> "Oh, nobody ever goes in there," Rosemund says approvingly of this idea.
<Franceska> "That sounds terribly sad," Franceska voices, patting Rosemund's shoulder.
<Steph> "Though I guess anyone you did bring there would get the message pretty fast, huh?"
<Franceska> "If they hadn't by the time you brought them over, you should just find someone smarter."
<El-Cideon> "I have had more important things to worry about!" Rosemund protests in response to Franceska's voiced sympathy.
<Franceska> "Haven't we all? But really, Rosemund, you must learn to plan accordingly and find the time."
<Julia> "You'd think we'd have a chance to find love on our adventures, but there's been a dearth of handsome princes for us to rescue," Julia muses playfully.
<Franceska> "Oh. Oh!" Franceska looks at Julia strangely. "I always thought you were above that."
<El-Cideon> "I will take that under consideration," Rosemund says stiffly to Franceska. Then she brightens up. "Oh, Julia, that is true--we seem to rescue an awful lot of women or old men. And that is good that we rescued them of course, but it is hardly what I would look for in romance."
<Steph> "I'm not really sure if the whole 'rescue romance' thing would work out very well in the end. I mean, there's a clear power imbalance there in the forthcoming relationship," points out Stephanie. "That doesn't seem healthy at all!"
<Julia> "Really?" Julia blinks. "I admit that I haven't had much... happening, I'm not above romance at all!"
<Franceska> "But your eventual plans... wouldn't they call for eternal abstinence?"
<El-Cideon> "But if he is a prince, then would that not contribute to balancing it all out, Stephanie?" Rosemund points out.
* Franceska nods. "Yes, royalty is acceptable target for a rescue romance. Even nobility would do in a pinch."
<El-Cideon> Rosemund nods. "It would seem that my romantic prospects rely upon finding a handsome aristocrat to free from some horrid imprisonment. I do not know what Auntie would have said about this strange predicament."
<Julia> "I'm certain there are ways around that. And those plans are still a ways off, plenty time for me to... do things," Julia says, finishing a bit weakly due to her lack of prospects anyway.
<Steph> Stephanie rolls her eyes. "That's just one of many ways. Why don't we just do it the way most people do it and go out tonight?"
<Julia> "I suppose so... we could bring all our other friends that are in town as well!" Julia says, warming up to the idea.
<Franceska> "Most people are pretty weak," Franceska muses. "But I could spare an evening, certainly if Rosemund is going as she needs chaperoning."
<Steph> "Good idea! We could just throw our own party instead of waiting for invitations! Franzy, let's use your place!"
<Franceska> "Don't call me that."
<El-Cideon> "It is very secluded, in case anyone behaves inappropriately while under the influence of spiritous beverages," Rosemund points out.
<Steph> Stephanie looks briefly shocked. "But I've always called you that."
<Franceska> "Have you? I must have been tuning you out."
<Steph> "Can I just call you Fran?"
* Franceska glances at Rosemund.
<Steph> "What about Fran-D?"
<El-Cideon> "Perhaps you should call her by her name," Rosemund adds to defuse Fran's obvious irritation.
<Franceska> "Do you actually want to stage a party at my house, or go out?" Franceska asks, smiling happily at Rosemund.
<El-Cideon> Rosemund hefts the painting and, naturally, wraps it up again. "Thank you very much, sir," she says politely, before turning back to Franceska. "I do not have much experience planning these things. Or attending them. But if you wanted to stage a party of course I would be there."
<Franceska> "It can happen. I won't have to clean up afterwards, and my study can be locked, of course."
<Steph> "You'd throw a party and lock yourself in?" asks Stephanie, sounding bamboozled.
<Franceska> "It is an option."
<Steph> "It, well, if you really want..." Stephanie cricks her neck. "Let's set a date and make it the talk of town! Famed adventurers showing their stuff! Since Miss D has provided the venue, I'll provide the booze. Julia, can you handle catering?"
<Franceska> "We do have some options with our ship, and the ability to shop from Azure or, really, anywhere on the planes."
<Julia> "Certainly, I haven't had a chance to properly stretch my kitchen skills lately," Julia says happily.
<El-Cideon> "So we can acquire all manner of refreshments with which our guests could become intoxicated," Rosemund says, with an attempt at an encouraging air. "I do not know much about that sort of thing, I will have to rely upon your expertise," she adds in Stephanie's general direction.
<Steph> "Oh, Alistair, Alistair! You must prepare an appropriate picture to unveil on the occasion!" exclaims Stephanie. "Of course, Rosemund. I will go to Azure and acquire the most exotic drinks I can find! We can have a wine tasting table, a row of challenges. Flavours of Faraway!"
<El-Cideon> "What specifically would you wish to commission?" Allister asks. "I am still obliged to provide a portrait of Miss Durant, and as the event sounds situated in her home..."
<Steph> "This is true, isn't it?"
<Julia> "Yes, I'd love to see your rendition of her," Julia agrees.
<Franceska> "Ah, so I wasn't being left out!"
<El-Cideon> "I'd not yet determined a proper theme," Allister says. "Some individuals' natures are more obvious and settled than others'."
<Steph> "Would it be easier if she modeled properly for you?"
<El-Cideon> "If she would like," Allister says. He doesn't sound as though he considers this important.
<Franceska> "I suppose being as it is that I am still learning to turn into other species, my true human self is less obvious than it might be for others?" Franceska muses, before frowning at Stephanie. "Stop trying to get me naked."
<Steph> "I'm just trying to help you get what you want! I've seen you naked plenty of times anyway, it's no big deal."
<El-Cideon> Rosemund makes a side trip to stow her painting safely in her room before the group settles into a table at a nearby restaurant to arrange the forthcoming festivities. The afternoon crowd is bustling and your conversations are unlikely to be overheard--and any drunken outburst likely unremarkable--amongst the generally riotous air.
<El-Cideon> "It is always such a strange thing coming back home to see all these people going about their normal everyday lives," Rosemund comments as she settles into a corner seat. "I mean to say, after all the unnatural things we see on our travels! Most people can go about their business every day without ever having to think of any of that."
<Franceska> "Are you reconsidering going anywhere again?"
<El-Cideon> Rosemund shakes her head. "Certainly not until we have done everything that we first set out to do!" Rosemund promises. "But I do look forward to settling down, if I can remember how by that time."
<Steph> "It just goes to show that the marvelous and fantastic are only a step away from everyday life!" notes Stephanie, setting a bottle of wine onto the table that she liberated along the way. "As is the hideous and the violent. I suppose in the end, that kind of normal life is in fact what we mark as good, worth fighting for and all of that."
<Julia> "Honestly, I'd get bored fairly quickly I think," Julia says. "Going on our adventures has expanded my horizons, normal life just doesn't hold as much interest now."
<Franceska> "It is probably the same for me," Franceska admits, sitting on Rosemund's right. "If anything, I'm wondering if I want to return here eventually for good."
<El-Cideon> Rosemund, by way of practice for the upcoming party, works her way through an ordinary ale. "But this is where you grew up, Franceska!" she says. "Where else would you wish to live?"
<Steph> "I can't say most places we've been hold much appeal as places of residence..."
<Julia> "I rather liked Azure."
<Franceska> "Somewhere without people."
<El-Cideon> "It was better than most," Rosemund allows. "Arcadia looked very nice, but it made me feel as though something was wrong in my head, all the time. I rather liked Arborea when there were no troublesome fairies around, however!"
<Franceska> "Of those we came across, most were weak and submissive. And of the few that stood out, most of those were terrible people," Franceska muses, needing some of the ale herself as she reflects on their travels. "Then, upon our return home, we learned the same was true here as well."
<Steph> "But what would you do without any people around?"
<El-Cideon> "Stephanie is right," Rosemund decides. "You complain now, but you would become very lonely in short order, I am sure."
<Julia> "Marina lives in a nice area," Julia agrees with Rosemund.
<El-Cideon> "Oh yes, it is very secluded but not completely isolated," Rosemund recalls. "You could try living with her? It is a large house, I am sure there is a spare room."
<Franceska> "I suppose I would read a lot, and teleport over if I'm ever too bored," Franceska muses. She frowns in disapproval at Rosemund, then. "But she lives in the plane of elves."
<Steph> "Well, you could live there, but when they visit go on a trip?"
<Franceska> "Inelegant but plausible, I suppose."
<El-Cideon> "They are not really so bad, are they?" Rosemund says, adding seriously: "Franceska, you must admit they cannot be all bad. Surely we have met good and bad people of all different kinds in our travels!"
<Franceska> "Name one worthwhile elf."
<Steph> "Thela."
* Franceska scoffs. "Call her one to her face."
<Steph> "I did, earlier today."
<Julia> "Oh please, we barely know any elves. I couldn't name a worthwhile dwarf or gnome, but I'm sure they exist," Julia says.
<Franceska> "That-- hmph. We did meet a halfway decent dwarf, although I couldn't be bothered to remember his name."
<El-Cideon> "Well, if there are so many people that you dislike, then I wonder who exactly you wish to invite into your home for our party," Rosemund speculates.
<Franceska> "You can invite whomever you like."
<Steph> Stephanie sighs, and sips slowly from her wine.
<El-Cideon> "Well, I want to know who you would like to invite!" Rosemund challenges. "Why, all these people are going to be present in your home ingesting presumably large amounts of alcohol, they might get up to anything! So I think there had better be someone there you are very happy to see."
<Franceska> "You will be there, of course," Franceska says matter of factly. "I could, of course, invite a judge over if you like. How about the rest of you? Do you have any plans to invite someone?"
<Julia> Julia looks nervous and fidgets with her drink when that question is posed.
<El-Cideon> Rosemund was about to ask the question herself and is alert for responses! "Why, Julia, is that question embarrassing?" she wonders with genuine confusion.
<Steph> "Hmm? Sure! Thela, Ron, Thali and Melpomene... oh, Mercedes, definitely Mercedes! I'd like to invite Aria Granville, but she's likely busy... Flora, as well. I would like to invite some of the local traders, too. I wonder if dad would go? I don't think he even owns any good formal wear nowadays..."
<Julia> "Because I don't really know anyone..." Julia mutters. "Aside from you and the people we've met on our adventures."
<Franceska> "Calixta should still be in town, speaking of people we came across adventuring and I wouldn't mind inviting." She tilts her head. "To invite Mercedes and Aria, are you going to be traveling extensively just for the party?"
<El-Cideon> "Well, perhaps you could invite some of them and we could bring some color to Amaranth," Rosemund proposes, adding with a smile, "After all, we can go nearly anywhere we like now."
<Franceska> "In that case, Azure does hold quite a few interesting people."
<Steph> "I'll have Thela deliver invitations to Peridot for me," points out Stephanie. "Aria is busy, remember? She's forming that protective enclave with all those mages, as I recall." She nods emphatically to Rosemund.
<El-Cideon> "Such as?" Rosemund prods Franceska.
<Franceska> "Oh? Ah, the Furies, of course, and Ione."
<El-Cideon> Rosemund blinks. "Oh, not...all of them, I should think? Mercenaries are a very rambunctious lot!"
<Steph> "Huh. You like those guys?"
<Franceska> "I doubt most would come, in any case. I'll just extend the invitation to the Duchess and Masuko and see from there." As Stephanie speaks, she shrugs. "Except the one who got away. But he seems marginally smart to keep on staying away."
<El-Cideon> "That is usually the intelligent thing to do with people that try to kill you," Rosemund affirms.
<Franceska> "And the ones who wanted to kill you are gone, so there is no bad blood left," Franceska assures Rosemund.
<Steph> "I think this will actually not go down very well if we invite Mercedes and anyone else from Peridot," notes Stephanie, gingerly. "They did sort of blow up the casino and murder a bunch of folks."
<Julia> "Good point," Julia nods. "And if it's a choice between the two I'd go with Mercedes."
<El-Cideon> Rosemund finishes her mug of ale and nods with evident relief. "Ah, yes, this is supposed to be an opportunity to relax! I would not want to see a fight breaking out."
<El-Cideon> ~