is this darkness of the dawn and your friends are gone

[bogwife]

[Everything keeps happening so much and the only real constants are death and parties.

Zerinda takes the initiative to plan things this time, with Della helping her deliver the invitations either being slipped under doors again.]



[It gives everyone an hour or two to settle down from the investigation and trial. By 6 on the dot the tables in the lounge are packed with miscellaneous vending machine snacks, a large pot of a thick and warm white stew, a plate stacked with biscuits and cupcakes. So many cupcakes. Mira has been coping well with her stress.

There's also several bottles of wine, hot coffee and hot chocolate waiting for anyone thirsty.

Welcome to the party, ya'll.]

Comments

[bolderfell]

...Hey. These aren't...

[Was Mira writing dead letters?]

[philoxenia]

It's probably what you're thinking... I never finished it. I started it weeks ago, when I was most scared.

[bolderfell]

Oh.

[What does anyone say to that? A beat passes, and Therion takes a seat by her.]

Well. Glad you won't be having to send it. Just tell them whatever it is in person.

[philoxenia]

Exactly.

[ She falls quiet before looking at him. ]

It's been a long almost two months, hasn't it? I didn't realize how much could change in that time.

[bolderfell]

[He exhales kind of a laugh.]

Yeah. [Musing, he leans back and looks at the ceiling.] Can't believe any prison's managed to hold me this long. What a blight on my record.

[philoxenia]

[ She lets out a quiet sound, close to a laugh. ]

... Don't worry. We'll keep your secret. You can say you had to go undercover or something, and did it so well that no one heard even a whisper of you for two months.

[bolderfell]

They'll believe me.

[He gives her a bit of a smile, then, still looking at her, goes thoughtful again.]

What about you? When you go back to wrap things up... will you tell them everything about this place?

[philoxenia]

I don't doubt that at all.

[ It's good to see, that smile. Mira nods, without hesitation. ]

I'm not bad at keeping secrets, but... this is one I don't want to hide. They'll know I'm different, so... I guess I don't want them to wonder, too.

[bolderfell]

[A beat. He nods, too.]

Yeah. Heh. And I guess you'll need to, to explain who Della and her uncle are when they show up to help.

[philoxenia]

[ She gives a sheepish laugh. ]

Definitely. Considering they're, ah, ducks, I can't not explain things.

[ A pause. ]

Do you think you'll tell your companions, too? Even if it's far in the future?

[bolderfell]

...I don't know. It'd take a hell of a lot of explaining.

[Presumably, Therion's compadres are also starting from a place of "What's a toilet." Sort of hard to wrap their minds around an underwater, sci-fi murdergame.]

If I tell them anything... it might be about Darius. [Shrug. It's casual, it's cool, the thought totally doesn't make his mouth go dry and kick up his heart rate.] After all, if they keep traveling with me, he's bound to cause them trouble sooner or later.

[philoxenia]

... That's true.

[ Yeah, she can imagine it'd be A Lot. She's quiet for a while, looking around the lounge as she thinks. And when she speaks up again, she looks at him. ]

Well... if they know, that's more people to give him a thorough walloping. Honestly, I'd like to do the same.

[ She says that second part lightly enough, or she tries, but she absolutely means it. Screw that guy. ]

[bolderfell]

...

[Tug, tug on a thread unraveling from his scarf.]

...I did wonder... if inviting them along with me would make getting the stones from him any easier.

[I.e., "Any less likely for me to bite it like a punk."]

Couldn't tell whether I went in alone from that picture.

[philoxenia]

[ Hmm. She sets her pen to the corner of the notepad, idly drawing a spiral. ]

You never know. [ She looks at him, tilting her head just slightly. ] Do you think you will? Invite them along.

[bolderfell]

[That earns a grim, quiet chuckle, eventually.]

Don't know. Guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

[He tilts his head and his voice lightens a bit.]

Gotta say, I'd pay good money to watch you crack Darius a new one. He'd never see it coming.

[philoxenia]

Either way... I think you'll be just fine.

[ It's a way of saying she believes in him, and she nearly does... But she blushes a little at that, and lets out a laugh. ]

You think so? You might be right. Someone as small and unassuming as I am? I'd love to see that look on his face.

[bolderfell]

I've seen it. It's a great look.

[His expression as he looks at her is softer than perhaps it should be, given what they're discussing.]

Not worth exposing you to whatever goes on in his head, though. Don't worry. I'll handle him one way or another.

[philoxenia]

[ She definitely catches on--hard not to--but instead of drawing attention to it, she gives a sheepish laugh. Her cheeks feel a little warmer, too. ]

You know... if we can find a way to go to other worlds, I'd love to hear about it afterward. If you wouldn't be opposed.

[bolderfell]

...All right. Come find me in Bolderfall and buy me a drink. I'll be happy to pay you back in tales. As many as you want.

[To make it official, he holds out a hand to shake. There's no Fool's Bangle there to weigh it down.]

I'll be waiting.

[philoxenia]

[ She takes his hand, giving it a firm shake and a bright smile. The key... he'd used it after all. ]

Hopefully I'll have some of my own to share with you. Though... with Della and her family, I'm sure I'll have plenty.