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Neither of these arguments particularly move him. McCoy gets an eyebrow with respect to his subtle quip, and Shonagon receives a patient, resigned sigh.
"Then we are at an impasse. You said you were not interested in getting "mixed you" in this matters, but it appears you cannot be extricated from them."
He sits back against his chair, examining them both carefully.
"Something will have to be done."
"Then we are at an impasse. You said you were not interested in getting "mixed you" in this matters, but it appears you cannot be extricated from them."
He sits back against his chair, examining them both carefully.
"Something will have to be done."
The silver rims blink out in the darkness. The back of a hand brushes his cheek and pushes under his chin, but this hand still grips the handle of whatever sharp thing was pressed against Hei's throat.
The woman says something that sounds like "noon unit en..." in the tone of a low groan.
The hand disappears. The woman's fingers squirm out of Hei's hand. Depending on Hei's fortitude, this may leave him with a feeling of loneliness or even fatigue, but no longer panic.
"Ask Joffrey," says a voice that seems surprisingly far down the hallway. A distant pinprick of light shines; it's impossible to tell how far away it is.
The woman says something that sounds like "noon unit en..." in the tone of a low groan.
The hand disappears. The woman's fingers squirm out of Hei's hand. Depending on Hei's fortitude, this may leave him with a feeling of loneliness or even fatigue, but no longer panic.
"Ask Joffrey," says a voice that seems surprisingly far down the hallway. A distant pinprick of light shines; it's impossible to tell how far away it is.
"....WITCH! WITCH IN THE DUNGEON!!!"
This scream comes from a guard who, unfortunately, witnessed Cludig's escape act. Nervous guards begin to search the corridor for torches!
The blonde guard bolts anxiously up the stairs. Between the lawless brat and the disappearing witch, this situation is getting WELL out of hand and it's time to call in the mages...
This scream comes from a guard who, unfortunately, witnessed Cludig's escape act. Nervous guards begin to search the corridor for torches!
The blonde guard bolts anxiously up the stairs. Between the lawless brat and the disappearing witch, this situation is getting WELL out of hand and it's time to call in the mages...
Shonagon is well-read enough to know foreshadowing when she hears it. One delicate eyebrow arches and she sets down her teacup.
"And when you say that," she murmurs, "do you mean that something will have to be done about me, or by me?"
Neither option appeals to her.
"And when you say that," she murmurs, "do you mean that something will have to be done about me, or by me?"
Neither option appeals to her.
Despite herself, Shonagon is charmed. She shifts her posture in her chair a little, attempting to mirror his movements right back.
"Surely my lord isn't trying to goad me into volunteering my services to his kingdom?"
"Surely my lord isn't trying to goad me into volunteering my services to his kingdom?"
He's... drained. What did she do...? Nevermind. Hei tightens his jaw against the feeling and detaches himself from the wall, but he can't seem to recall his earlier anger.
Still, he draws himself up, shoulders tight. Looking like a challenge is half the fight. It takes a moment to recall who Joffrey is.
"The--" What is the word. "--wizard?"
In his head. Which means-- he's found him? Them? Is the woman his accomplice or Joffrey's? He recalls the swiftness and lethality of the purple flames, and realizes he's not doubting her statement at all.
But it is enough to give him some of his ire back, and with it, some of his sharpness.
He surveys her for a moment, and then asks the only question that seems pertinent.
"Am I going to?" Ask him, that is.
Still, he draws himself up, shoulders tight. Looking like a challenge is half the fight. It takes a moment to recall who Joffrey is.
"The--" What is the word. "--wizard?"
In his head. Which means-- he's found him? Them? Is the woman his accomplice or Joffrey's? He recalls the swiftness and lethality of the purple flames, and realizes he's not doubting her statement at all.
But it is enough to give him some of his ire back, and with it, some of his sharpness.
He surveys her for a moment, and then asks the only question that seems pertinent.
"Am I going to?" Ask him, that is.
"My dear lady," He says in the most gentle, delightful tone possible. "What services did you have in mind?"
The pitch is somewhere between "what on earth do you imagine you can do" and "I am genuinely curious."
Bones mutters that he'd likely be the first person killed in an expedition of killed people.
The pitch is somewhere between "what on earth do you imagine you can do" and "I am genuinely curious."
Bones mutters that he'd likely be the first person killed in an expedition of killed people.
"Tch."
She sounds annoyed. The corridor stretches on and it's clear from the occasional eclipse of the light at the far end that she's moving away from him, down its length, to whatever unknowable destination lies ahead.
The soft powdery earthy scent of mold surrounds them, the narrow tunnel makes all conversation echo.
She sounds annoyed. The corridor stretches on and it's clear from the occasional eclipse of the light at the far end that she's moving away from him, down its length, to whatever unknowable destination lies ahead.
The soft powdery earthy scent of mold surrounds them, the narrow tunnel makes all conversation echo.
Shonagon nods at Bones's statement. "Just that. A team of Outlanders would certainly be expendable, if you pressed us into investigative service. We're so far from home that it'd be very difficult for us to call on our own governments for protection."
He scowls after her, but-- Starting a fight is pointless, and wherever she's leading him, it... doesn't really matter. It stopped mattering the moment he trusted her against his instincts.
He'll deal with it when they get there.
That doesn't mean he has to like her or whatever she's doing. He follows her in icy silence. It's better this way anyway; familiar, almost comfortingly so. This unsteady ground is what he's used to.
He'll deal with it when they get there.
That doesn't mean he has to like her or whatever she's doing. He follows her in icy silence. It's better this way anyway; familiar, almost comfortingly so. This unsteady ground is what he's used to.
Cludig quickly surfaces on the other side of the bars at the blond's words.
"My name is Cludig and-" She's cut off as she hears the stomping of returning guards. With a gurgling apology she dives back into her watery hidey-hole.
"My name is Cludig and-" She's cut off as she hears the stomping of returning guards. With a gurgling apology she dives back into her watery hidey-hole.
The passage widens. The light at the end is a magical torch, which the woman fiddles with...
on the other side of the wall
A sinister croaking and a few struggling knocks interrupt all conversation. A recessed panel beside the fireplace sinks back, then swings open, admitting a blast of dank air and a number of bodies: one a dark woman all in black, and the other a suspiciously ordinary-looking Chinese man.
Joffrey rises, calm, with a pleased smile dancing upon his face. "You found him. Well done, Varrå." The sound at the end is curved strangely, the sort of thing that takes years of practice to master.
"Teedle dee dee deeree o what." She replies, or at least that's what it sounds like. This seems to satisfy Joffrey yet further. He holds out open arms in greeting to the newcomer(s).
"Just in time!"
(In the background, the woman arranges herself in a chair across from Shonagon and Bones (her footsteps make no sound.) She's absolutely casual, sprawling out and sinking low in the padded chair, one ankle balanced on the opposite knee. Watching.
Bored within seconds, she pulls out something that looks like a copper marble and starts fiddling with it. In her hands it ignores gravity and rolls freely in midair, harmlessly emitting glittery puffs of smoke.)
(Free for all.)
on the other side of the wall
A sinister croaking and a few struggling knocks interrupt all conversation. A recessed panel beside the fireplace sinks back, then swings open, admitting a blast of dank air and a number of bodies: one a dark woman all in black, and the other a suspiciously ordinary-looking Chinese man.
Joffrey rises, calm, with a pleased smile dancing upon his face. "You found him. Well done, Varrå." The sound at the end is curved strangely, the sort of thing that takes years of practice to master.
"Teedle dee dee deeree o what." She replies, or at least that's what it sounds like. This seems to satisfy Joffrey yet further. He holds out open arms in greeting to the newcomer(s).
"Just in time!"
(In the background, the woman arranges herself in a chair across from Shonagon and Bones (her footsteps make no sound.) She's absolutely casual, sprawling out and sinking low in the padded chair, one ankle balanced on the opposite knee. Watching.
Bored within seconds, she pulls out something that looks like a copper marble and starts fiddling with it. In her hands it ignores gravity and rolls freely in midair, harmlessly emitting glittery puffs of smoke.)
(Free for all.)
...Though the blonde guard stumbles back down the steps with Herpys and another mage-guard, it must be said that their overall air is "subdued."
In fact, they look positively put out.
"OY PRISONERS." The blonde bellows (her name is Bethesda by the way.)
"ORDERS FROM TOPSIDE, yer gonna make a visit to an important personage. That is IF you're behaved...."
She gets out her keys to unlock the cell door, and everyone involved glares angrily at various puddles throughout the room - no longer certain which one holds a witch.
In fact, they look positively put out.
"OY PRISONERS." The blonde bellows (her name is Bethesda by the way.)
"ORDERS FROM TOPSIDE, yer gonna make a visit to an important personage. That is IF you're behaved...."
She gets out her keys to unlock the cell door, and everyone involved glares angrily at various puddles throughout the room - no longer certain which one holds a witch.
The light blinds his unaccustomed eyes for a moment, and he squints -- and then instinctively tenses at Joffrey's voice. For a moment, his dark eyes bore themselves into the black-clad woman's back, and there is a promise there.
Then his face relaxes into careful neutrality, even though his shoulders are still tense. He glances at Joffrey, at the woman in the elaborate clothing, the man in grey -- they seem unharmed, but that means nothing -- and then the woman in black with her marble.
Two wizards, then; one of them swift and armed even discounting whatever powers she may have. He ignores the sinking feeling in his stomach, and returns his gaze to Joffrey.
"In time for what?" he asks, because it seems to be the sort of thing that ought to follow.
Then his face relaxes into careful neutrality, even though his shoulders are still tense. He glances at Joffrey, at the woman in the elaborate clothing, the man in grey -- they seem unharmed, but that means nothing -- and then the woman in black with her marble.
Two wizards, then; one of them swift and armed even discounting whatever powers she may have. He ignores the sinking feeling in his stomach, and returns his gaze to Joffrey.
"In time for what?" he asks, because it seems to be the sort of thing that ought to follow.
Edited 2013-06-17 00:13 (UTC)
"Hrmph. Like a hearing."
Actually she has no idea why the prisoners are being brought up. She only knows that she must do it. Frankly she thinks the whole thing is a bad idea.
Huffly gruffly she marches up the stairs out of the prison, shouting, en route, an order to Herpys to keep an eye out for that tricksy witch. Herpys makes a face like he just inhaled an entire room full of cat pee smell.
Actually she has no idea why the prisoners are being brought up. She only knows that she must do it. Frankly she thinks the whole thing is a bad idea.
Huffly gruffly she marches up the stairs out of the prison, shouting, en route, an order to Herpys to keep an eye out for that tricksy witch. Herpys makes a face like he just inhaled an entire room full of cat pee smell.
Shonagon's eyes skip across the other Outlander; he looks a bit worse for the wear since he ran from the throne room. But she's very interested in his captor, and her toy. She doesn't bother to try to be subtle as she watches the marble roll through the air. They have their own court wizards in Japan, but she's never seen that trick before.
"Ah.. ok."
Maybe it's that flaming guy. He seemed to trust us enough considering he killed the real assassins. Huuu.., thought Zell.
Spying the face Herpys was making, he smiled internally that not only would he not be coming with, but that he would be staying very far away.
Maybe it's that flaming guy. He seemed to trust us enough considering he killed the real assassins. Huuu.., thought Zell.
Spying the face Herpys was making, he smiled internally that not only would he not be coming with, but that he would be staying very far away.
Edited 2013-06-17 00:20 (UTC)
Shonagon is absolutely delighted by this. She lifts her hand and pushes lightly at the marble with just the tip of one finger.
"What a charming little thing!"
She's very careful not to breathe the smoke in directly, but a flick of her fan wafts the smoke toward her so that she can better process the scent.
"What a charming little thing!"
She's very careful not to breathe the smoke in directly, but a flick of her fan wafts the smoke toward her so that she can better process the scent.
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