Once business is taken care of, Stille and Ithea get away from it all. Away from the trouble, the difficulties and the noise. It's a quiet trip back to his quarters. As you head in, "Fortunately, the meal I had before should have kept perfectly. I don't know what we'd do without magic."
"Life would be vastly different without it," Ithea agrees.
"I can't imagine it," Stille smiles slightly, going in. Soon enough you have a meal before you and the two are settled in. "I just wanted to say I'm proud of you. Anyone can fail and suffer the consequences. Fewer can pick themselves up and keep going as the pain cuts into them."
Ithea blinks. "Ah, well, I mean, thanks?"
"Sorry, wasn't sure how to react to that," Ithea admits, looking vaguely lost.
"Honestly, it's bugging me a lot even if I'm not showing it, or trying to. I mentioned it to some of the other catfolk earlier, but Lief and Muirfinn's loss reminded me very much of that last day of Lifasa. And I don't know if I'm reading into it and projecting, but I feel like the tortles blame me for Muirfinn's loss. How they stared at me when I went to the Memorial and I just kept flashing back to me yelling at other survivors about leaving our world behind, blaming them for not doing enough, so forth...I -feel- that in their stares now. Going on that quest for the Mineral treasure was almost like a vacation," Ithea admits. "Fuck, but it's going to feel uncomfortable being around them for a while, and now's probably when they need some sort of support."
Stille waves a hand, "Don't worry." He then listens, putting an arm around Ithea's shoulder as she talks. "It sounds like you're facing your own inner demons as much as anything else."
Ithea chuckles weakly. "That's a way to put it."
"I know that you can blame yourself, hate yourself and feel like you've failed. It can make what you did in the past seem foolish and make your life difficult." Stille turns to meet Ithea's eyes, "I also know that you have to love and forgive yourself."
Ithea laughs weakly again. "Look, Stille, I love you but please stop with the cheesy cheer-up lines. I'll be okay, I was just noting that -right now- I'm still down about it and venting a bit about it."
"Anyway, what did you cook this time?" she asks, diverting the conversation, not at all subtly.
"Heh," Stille chuckles at that, "Fine, fine. This time is..."
Your meal and rest pass in a pleasant reverie. The two of you are comfortable on your couch when there is a slow, pounding knock on your door.
"Were you expecting someone?" Ithea asks as she looks towards the door of Stille's room.
"No," Stille says, getting up. "I'll get it."
He goes to do just that, opening it and promptly recoiling back. "AH!" he says, leaping back and landing in a crouch, fists ready.
The figure that looks in wears that mask. That damn mask of Adrian's, and his voice says, "Hello, kitty," he says dryly. "Elena said you were here, so I thought I'd drop in."
"Ah. What's up? Need me for something?"
Adrian removes his skull mask, grinning as he ruffles his hair. "Yeah. Aurora business or I wouldn't have interrupted. First free time I've had all day."
"Aurora business?" Ithea asks, straightening up a bit. "What sort?"
"Yes, do tell," Stille says, "Since you found it needful to interrupt as such."
Adrian shrugs, coming in and taking a seat. "Nothing world ending, but you need to be in the loop. First of all, Morniel's sent back word that he's having early success. He'll have our locations to raid, no doubt about it."
Ithea blinks at that. "Much quicker than I expected. Are we ready for that? I know we were planning for a week or so, and it's barely been over a day."
"Doesn't have them yet," Adrian shrugs his shoulders, sitting back, "But he's confident that he will. Said it's a good sign in his message and I agree. But anyway, second of all is about a new recruit. Think you met Moore, but have you met Calleigh yet?"
"Huh? Wait, what? Calley? No, never had a chance to meet him or her. Uh, it's not a human boy by some chance is it? Because that's an odd coincidence," Ithea asks with a momentary look of confusion.
"Calley? No, CaLLEIGH," Adrian frowns slightly at it, "Calley, Calley...I'm drawing a blank. Who is that, kitty?"
"Let's just say he has to do with Sylvie and Balyss, and leave it at that. If you recall anything about Balyss' first appearance here in Aurora, you'll probably know that you'll want to stay out of that one," Ithea warns Adrian. Stille probably has a pretty good idea of what she's talking about.
Clearing her throat. "Anyway, so who's Calleigh? And anything else in the need-to-know loop?"
"Oh yeah, that's the third thing." This gets Adrian to smirk widely, "But hold onto that one for now. Calleigh's a courre eladrin that's the pet or familiar of an invisible aboleth that isn't an aboleth. It's a powerful manifester like Dana is. They'll be a useful combination, especially since that talent's so rare."
"An aboleth that is not an aboleth," Stille interjects, "I've recently been studying the arts of the mind, though I fear it will overshadow my skills there greatly. But perhaps I could learn."
"If Calleigh is the 'pet' then is this invisible non-aboleth what's really joining? What's their name?"
"Tryll. Dana has a good opinion of them, for what that's worth," Adrian glances over at Stille, "Yeah, do that. Wouldn't hurt to have another point of view there. Tryll's checking out from the seers, but it's not impossible to bluff that. There was a scene when Hanna saw Tryll and nearly came to blows. Thought an aboleth had walked right into Aurora and was ready to smite away."
"Ah, I assume that's one of the reasons you're going around informing people then. Well, they're welcome to join if they want to. Have they given a reason for it? Hate devils? Fame? Adventure?"
"They're just the type to, though that courre's hyper." Adrian grimaces, "She spouts off more questions than you can answer."
"Interesting fact, I guess. And the third thing you mentioned?"
Oh, Adrian leans back here. "Stille, are you aware of what happened?"
This gets Stille to sigh slightly, "Yes. Dear Balyss let her good judgment lapse in the heat of the moment." He shakes his head, "Though I've only heard the barest inklings since I've been busy."
Adrian's response is amused, "Then I'll fill Ithea in. I wouldn't say the two had a catfight, but they did yell at each other. The thing is, they did it in the baths. Apparently they managed to run into each other there and off they went. They're not speaking to each other right now. Simmer's trying to play peacemaker but it's all cattiness and nasty comments. The most recent I heard, and no offense Stille, was that Balyss was only good for being a cow."
Ithea groans and melts into her chair, placing a hand against her forehead. "Goddammit, I managed to cool off Balyss enough not to immediately confront Sylvie and what happens? They meet by goddamn freaking happenstance. Right, well, since I'm sure you'll get to them and it'll come up, it can't be helped. Take note of this, Adrian: Callie is the name of the son that Sylvie abandoned in Balmuria, the prime they're from. Dear Auntie Balyss has played babysitter to a very sad boy that's not sure where his mother is."
Taking her hand off her face, she gives a cool look at Adrian. "I would be -very- careful mentioning this Calleigh around either Sylvie or Balyss, given the reaction I just had to hearing the name. Yes, there's enough difference between the names if you listen carefully, but right now..."
"Ah fuck." Adrian matches Ithea's facepalm with one of his own. "That's going to be awkward."
"If I may," Stille clears his throat and then goes on, "That particular issue would best be solved with advanced warning to all concerned parties."
"Yeah. Ithea, tell Elena to tell them about it. We don't have to face that head on and since you know and are in a position to know about new recruits, it won't be like sticking your nose in. When women get like that..." Adrian shudders, "It's bad enough when some of the Graceful Blow gets on like that."
"I hope you're smart enough to say that sort of thing around your wife," Ithea notes with a snort. "Elena? I don't suppose you heard what's just been said about Sylvie, Balyss, and sorta-Calleigh?"
Elena pops right in, "I've heard all of it, but a lot of it's really private," Elena admits. She's dressed up like a noblewoman today, down to an impressive amount of skirt. "I'm staying waaaaay out of that one." She waves her hands in warding, "I think they just need time to cool down."
"This time I don't think it's going to cool off. The last time they tried cooling off, they made up, sure, but the underlying problem stuck. Stille can back me up on this or say otherwise maybe, but I don't think Balyss is going to let it go this time."
Ithea grimaces. "Also, Balyss has extra reason to be peeved. Sylvie used the machine in Medi's quarters. Balyss is peeved at me too for authorizing that, and because I manipulated her into directing the majority of her ire at Sylvie towards me earlier. Frankly, if they hadn't just met up randomly, cooling down might have helped but now that it's out in the open..."
"Great," Adrian drawls and then groans, "Going to poke your nose in, Ithea?"
"I disagree," Stille says, "I think dear Balyss will forgive in time, but she may not forgive, either. I fear it's a matter of principle for her."
"The 'maybe not forgive' is the part that worries me. But you've known her longer...do you really think I should just let them cool off?"
"I think so," Stille says, "At least dear Balyss. You know Sylvie better than I."
"Sylvie...is a bit harder to predict right now. Normally I'd say let her cool off right now, but after Muirfinn and Lief, I'm a bit less sure. Can't exactly go asking Balyss for a divination here either."
"What's your gut say?" Adrian glances over, "That's usually the right choice."
"Be careful, no matter what. Okay?" Elena asks, wringing her hands. "That sort of fight isn't nice to see, and I can't not see it."
"...I'm going to let them cool down for a while. That said, Elena, if you see Sylvie looking like she's going out, let me know. Don't want to think the worst, but I know she contemplated leaving the last time that Balyss and her fought like that."
"Oh. She's going now," Elena says in a small voice. "She just went through the portals and into the entry hall."
"...Goddammit, Sylvie."
Ithea stands up, casting a spell to speed herself up and clicks her boots. "Let's see if I can intercept her and talk her down from a run away plan."
Without saying anything else, she dashes out.
Swift expiditious retreat and haste. Haste lasts 10rounds/1minute, and SER spell can be spammed something like 20 times. So Ithea's speed should be 100ft for 1min, 70ft a minute after, and 40ft after that. Assume she's running, so 4x speed.
Ithea sprints off, hurrying. She goes 'round a corner, just barely getting a glance at Lady Rosa as she barrels right at her.
1 charge of it spend. Make a Ref save here, Ithea.
If someone can roll it for me with an inspiration (d20+31+11 w/evasion) in there, that'd be appreciated. If not, I'll get to it in about 2hrs.
Gotcha covered Merc
> roll d20+31+11 w/evasion for Ithea
<Serith> Iddy roll for Serith < 58 > [d20=16]
Yay, not a 1!
Quick note, longstrider and haste don't stack. Both are enhancement bonuses. So no point wasting charges on it.
Ithea strafes to the side, barely catching Rosa's startled expression. She hears her call, "AAAH!" as Ithea sprints by. She leaps through the portal and appears in the entry hall. She lands in a crouch and spring forward, past the Aurora golems and some pixies flying around them. She only half hears the pixie's shouts as she barrels into the courtyard. Sylvie's there! She's right by the gate out, maybe half a dozen steps from passing outside.
"Sylvie!" Ithea calls out. It's a flip toss whether that stops her or makes her speed up. Hopefully not the second.
Sylvie stops and looks over her shoulder, "Eh?"
Ithea continues her speedy sprinting, stopping solely once she's in front of Sylvie. Literally, like right in front of her, face right next to Sylvie's. "....Hi."
Sylvie tilts her head to the side and slowly replies, "...hi?"
Ithea just stares at Sylvie for a minute, not sure what to say. Finally... "...whatcha up to?"
"Wondering what's with you," Sylvie turns, reaching out to poke Ithea's head. "What are you doing?"
Well, maybe she wasn't running away? Best to be blunt and say it outright. "...making sure you didn't think you needed to run away after fighting with Balyss like you did the last time."
That gets a full blown scowl from the blonde, which is followed up by a strong WHAP! A slap right up Ithea's head, "No! Where did you..." She begins, pinching the bridge of her nose with her fingers. "What I'm doing is going to Brightwater to unwind a little bit."
"First off, ow! Second off, at least I know you can't lie about that, so...great!" Ithea gives Sylvie a thumbs up gesture with one hand, while rubbing the back of her head with the other.
"And can you fault me? Like I said, you were totally thinking that the last time you and Balyss clashed like that, and Adrian's been spreading that gossip for as much as he can sell it. And apparently selling it for free still gets it far."
"I can and I do," Sylvie crosses her arms, "Look behind you."
You can see that your rapid sprint got attention. Several elementals are staring at the two, as are a group of practicing soldiers. Mirima and the Graceful Blow are also watching the scene. This gets Sylvie to sigh, a long and exasperated sound. "Speaking of feeding the rumor mill."
"...well, I'm not sorry, just so you know. I was worried!" Ithea declares with a loud huff as she crosses her arms.
"You should be sorry!" Sylvie glares at Ithea, before shouting, "Hey everyone, watch us have a fight in public! Great gossip, right?" The various groups watching chuckle, a few reddening and falling back.
"Still not sorry," Ithea repeats, her arms still crossed. "Don't see why I should be sorry for worrying."
She pauses and before Sylvie can respond, interjects, "And don't shout, I'm not deaf and neither are you."
"For making a public spectacle of this," Sylvie hisses, a sweep of her arms encompassing most of the courtyard. "More gossip, just what we needed." She turns and starts walking back to the gate. "I'm going out to Brightwater."
"...well that went well," Ithea mutters under her breath, dropping the facade of cheer. Oh well, at least she all but promised to come back so might as well do as she originally planned and leave her alone for a while. Task done, she starts heading back for Stille's room.
If this is Ithea's respite, I don't want to see her difficult days.
You return to Stille's room. Adrian's still there, the two of them chatting. "And then..." Stille says, before looking up, "How did it go, Ithea?"
In a difficult day, Lief gets turned into an epic undead pixie and Muirfinn is turned into The Devil's epic lawn ornament.
"She claims she's just going to Brightwater to unwind. So at least she's not running away. On the other hand, I added fuel to the rumor mill, so she's extra embarrased and angry. Which honestly, I can't bring myself to shed tears over."
Ithea plops on a chair. "I figure I can trust her word and just do as originally planned and leave her and Balyss to work things out or cool down on their own. For now anyway."
"Good," Adrian rises, "That was all I needed to tell you. Sorry to interrupt."
"Just as well you did. I'd have worried more if I heard about the fight afterwards, then asked Elena and found out Sylvie was gone. While annoying, at least I'm not going to be worrying about her," Ithea responds, waving away the apology.
"Heh, glad to be of service. Don't leave any claw marks on Stille, kitty," Adrian waves and goes on out.
Stille chuckles good naturedly, "So all is well in the land of drama?"
"I wouldn't say well, but they're not unsalvageable," Ithea answers. "But still, what a freaking mess."
Okay Ithea, this conversation's about wound down for the second. Do you want to skip ahead a little bit?
Sure.
I'm going to move you over to Calleigh's thread shortly. This one's locked.