IC: Extassis, Les Etrangers Beaux Options

[Fenris]

Shaking his head slighly at his own lapses, Bakatare turned towards the newer members of the team, giving them a precise bow.

"My apologies. This will be our base of operations for this particular run. It is my apartment. Secuirty is light, but please refrain from carrying any obvious military grade weaponary out in the open. Feel free to use the kitchen and the bathroom. Since I assume we'll be sleeping in shifts, my bed is also available, as is the couch and any other furniture."

Introductions done and sleep needed, he turned towards the aforementioned shower and bed.

[Tashio]

Hiroto returns Bakatare bow, "Thank you, you are most kind, I require little rest or sustenance. I can watch while those who need to rest may."

[Blitz]

:: Moira nods her agreement to Bakatare and sits down on the couch. Within minutes, she curls up in a ball at one end and is fast asleep. Her dreams are thankfully silent as her body and mind recover from the recent traumatic events. ::

:: Sleep was needed but short lived. The dreams started roughly 5 hours into her rest and within minutes she was awake, shivering with sweat. The thought of returning to dreamland was enough to force her out of her cramped sleeping position and headed for the shower. ::

:: Once clean and refreshed, she returns to the main room to wait for the others to ready themselves for the next stage in their plan. ::

[BishopMcQ]

Responding to Angelina's question from before, Shiver's voice is the quiet rumble of distant thunder.

"We were speaking of many things which came to light while we were upon our journey. Moira believed that I had something to do with the attackers."

His hands focussed on washing each dish carefully by hand. It gave him something to do while his eyes glowed across the twilight of the penthouse.

[Fenris]

Most of a night's rest later finds Bakatare pulling a clean suit jacket out of his closet.

Heading into the living room and seeing Moira already awake, he gives her a supportive pat on the shoulder as he walks by, sharing as much of his compassion as he's able to in the moment.

After the group was all awake, he settles on one of the arms of the couch, legs crossed in front of him. The clean suit seems to have done as much to restore his spirits as the nights sleep and the shower have.

"So, we need a couple of people to pick up the cash at Iblis's, and we need to hash out the last details of our party crashing. Murrey, I assume you're up for the courier duty? Any volunteer's to go with him?"

[Blitz]

"I would be more than happy to accompany you, if you could accomodate a stop by my own place. This dress has seen much too much use."

[Nikoli]

"Of course, when would you hike to lead over there?."

[Fenris]

"Now works. The rest of us will hash out the details of the plan, and get your input when you get back."

[Whizbang]

"And were you?" Angelina asked. She was more conscious now of what her guardian told her...or didn't tell her. She wondered if she'd get the truth, or a sugar coated lie. And this was just the beginning. She needed to get the details of his dealings with Mynce.

[BishopMcQ]

"I cannot say. Given the timing of the attack, I would say that they were attempting to stop the quest. It is possible that they were hunting for me, though the attackers are hired killers and thieves. Their presence suggests that someone who knew about the ritual tipped them off. While I have suspicions on who that may have been, I cannot say for sure."

Shiver set the final plate in the rack to dry and began laying out the cups for tea.

"Which tea would you like?"

[Whizbang]

Hmm....Angelina pondered the response. "The mint tea would be nice." she answered. He had given her an answer. But not a complete one. Of course, she couldn't blame him for not wanting to air theories before they were founded. "Why would someone want to stop our quest? It wasn't like we were harming anyone else. "

[Nikoli]

Murrey hauls himself up off the couch and out the door to the elevator, queueing up the car to start and get warmed up as they wait for the elevator. As they ride down the elevator he calls up the sensor feed for the van, checking for unwanted company.
"So, tear woo?

[BishopMcQ]

The large troll carefully scoops the tea leaves into the pot and adds the boiling water from the kettle on the stove.

"Someone would stop our quest for the same reasons that the Hunter traveled through the Gallery and killed Paladin. Our target is a group which doesn't handle competition well. They would be well-inclined to stop us before we could gain the knowledge to put a stop to their plans."

Moving over to the chairs across the coffee table where he and Angelina regularly sat to discuss their daily activities, Shiver brought the tea tray with him.

"Sugar or honey?"

[Whizbang]

"I thought it was said that the Hunter had been after me, for the Heart." Angelina replied. "Sugar please." Such routine details amid all this disruption to their life. But she wasn't going to be distracted. "So seems that would make for two interested parties."

[BishopMcQ]

"Perhaps so, which would make an excellent parallel to our own group. Those who protect Iblis and our people for money, and those who do it for loyalty and love..."

Placing the sugar within easy reach, he added one lump of sugar to Angelina's tea. No sugar in his tea, Shiver instead adds a squeeze of lemon.

"What do you remember of the time's when Desdemona was in control during our journey?"

[Whizbang]

"Of the earlier occurances, I remember nothing. However, since I turned over the heart, I remember everything with perfect clarity. Madness would indeed be the fitting realm for her to have taken her test. Unfortunatly, that is one that would be doubtful she would return from."

[Buddha72]

Murrey

You feel the slight sense of displacement as you shift your focus to the vehicle outside. The area quickly forms in your mind, an image built the sensors. Nothing seems out of the ordinary, aside the constant low hum of the downtown rigger traffic.

Moira & Murrey

The area buzzes with movement as people begin to make their way home from the day shifts. You seem to take a route that baffles common sense but somehow manages to avoid the majority of the traffic at this hour. You watch the mundane landscape scroll by through the window and note when the neighborhoods change. You are once again greeted by the sight of the Elven District. The lush plants and small quaint homes tucked amongst them. You approach Iblis's house to find the majority of the street parking taken by an assortment of cars. As you pull into the driveway you are greeted to the site of a BBQ in full swing. The front lawn is packed with Changlings and the distinct THUMPA THUMPA of music is heard from inside the house. A single body seems to respond to your arrival. You watch Izzy push his way through the crowds towards you. Dressed in boardshorts and a tanktop, his skin giving off its own sunset colored corona of light. His face is eager and open. He waves his hand trying to grab someone's attention from inside the vehicle.

[Whizbang]

She sighed. "Fine fine." she said in irritation, though it didn't seem aimed at Shiver. "You admitted to a connection to the Ito back at the Gate of Horn and Ivory... are you sure they weren't looking particularly for you, as the Dragon was for me?"

[Nikoli]

Murrey Pulls the car over to the curb, getting out to wave back to Izzy.
"Hey tummer, long chime no see. Is the fuzzy mistress inside?"

[Blitz]

:: Stepping lightly out of the van, Moira can't help but smile at the brightly colored boy. He sure looks a thousand times better than when they found him in that awful place. ::

"Hello Izzy. You look great, looks like you've been having quite a lot of fun over here."

[Buddha72]

Murrey & Moira

The young Changling stops short of you both, seeming to look beyond you to see if anyone else exits the car. "Hi, where's everyone else?" You can see his hands shake slightly as he fidgets. Up close the signs of withdrawal are evident in his body. "Did Paladin come with you?" He appears to gaining a little more wieght and he seems tired but content. "Uhm...right right, Iblis is round back manning the grill." He gestures to along the side of the house towards the yet has unseen backyard.

[Blitz]

:: Hearing his question regarding their fallen comrade and seeing the signs of his struggle against his own demons, Moira realizes that the truth in this instance could shatter a delicate balance. With a look to Murray, Moira smiles at Izzy and takes a step closer to him, wraping an arm around his shoulders and in effect leading him back to the party and towards Iblis. ::

"No, he wanted to, but had other errands that needed attending to."

[Fenris]

Bakatare taps out a quick message to Jonathan as he finishes off the last of the mostly soy meal.

Glad you found it, when and where can we meet? He made a mental note to set aside the syringe and the piece of rope in some sort of container for transport.

"In the mean time, we need to set things up." This last is directed to the remaining party members.

He takes a piece of paper and sketches a rough layout of the Bodybag.

"This is the location of the party. It's a small S&M club, run by Madam Yu. We've been given permission to do what we need to do here, but our orders are to minimize collateral damage, both to people and property. Moira will be on the stage here," he indicates, "and the rest of us will be mixed in with the catering crew that's coming in for the party. Our thought was to put one or two people out in the crowd or hidden somewhere in the crowd. Our main objective at this point is to destroy a single item, a magical foci of some kind, that the target is carrying. We don't know what it looks like, but we can guarantee it will be both powerful and present. We have enough magical support that identifying the foci should be easy. We'll let you know as soon as we've confirmed it. It is the primary target here. Once it's destroyed, everything else gets easier."

He looks up at this point to check for questions and the like. "I don't know what everyone's specialty is, so I need you guys to chime in with the best uses for you."

[Buddha72]

Moira & Murrey

His face seems to deflate. "Sure, you all are working but let him know I said hi." He falls in step with Moira. As you round the edge of the building you're greeted by the sight of even more Changlings gathered in the backyard. You see your employer decked out in platforms, hot shorts and a tube top. Her hair in done in two pigtails doused in glitter and sporting an apron that proclaims "KISS THE COOK!". She stands in a U shaped arrangement of grills with tongs in one hand and spatula in the other. You can see and smell an assortment of meats and veggies grilling. She notices you round the building, giving a jaunty wave with her tongs and motions for you to join her.

Bakatare

As you begin the flow of planning you are alerted to an incoming text message. The ID is Jonathan's.

I want you to remember the gift you were looking for is quite rare. The gentleman you need to meet can be found in the barrens at the following GPS coordinates. Night would be a beter time to meet with him. Just show up and he'll make an appearance. I would bring physical protection of some sort, I don't think there will be trouble but he is a little more street than I am used to dealing with. Take care.

[Nikoli]

"Will wo Izzy, soon as de see him."
Murrey follows Moira and Izzy round the back of the house, sending a quick command to the car to find a spot to park. Upon seeing Iblis and the others he whistles appreciatively and returns the wave.