IC: Extassis, Les Etrangers Beaux Options

[BishopMcQ]

"She is my employer in all that entails. I am compensated for my services. You both know by this point, what a small portion of my duties are."

Shiver's voice is unchanged. The same soft tone he used when asking Angelina questions, answers her own.

[Whizbang]

"Care to elaborate a bit more on the rest of those duties?" Angelina asked pointedly. She was starting to see just why Desdemona was so irked with him. He was being decidedly vague in his answers. The time for that was over. She wanted the details.

[BishopMcQ]

"My primary duty is to teach. Beyond that, I perform several duties which change depending on operations. Currently, you are the crux of my duties. I am to defend, nurture and observe you."

Here the old troll's voice cracks.

"If Desdemona becomes a problem, I am to follow certain executive directives.

"Those are my duties and I will carry them out without fail. My employer does not care whether I love you or not."

[Whizbang]

Executive directives...they had already heard enough about that. "Yes...that is the problem. If Desdemona would just behave herself, we wouldn't have all this trouble. Now that it is simply a battle of wills to determine who is in control, I'll just have to show Des that I'm stronger than she thinks I am."

[Fenris]

In a delayed response to Hiroto, Bakatare ponders for several moments before speaking.

"As much as I'd prefer to isolate him and take him out that way, it's got to be public. That's about the only way to assure we get the humiliation factor our employer is looking for. It needs to be public and obvious. It's good that the two of you are both capable in close combat. We'll have you both in the room, moving among the crowd to give you as much access to the target as possible without alerting suspicion. I think both of you should focus on dealing with the bodyguard. Drop her as quickly as possible. Moira, Angelica and I will deal with magical responses from the circle and destroy the focus while Shiver distracts the main target. Once the bodyguard is down, the focus should be as well, and we can take out the main target. Once he's down, the rest of the circle should be willing to let it go. They don't like him, and have no loyalty to him besides obedience to the power he wields."

[Buddha72]

Elsewhere...

The light in the area seems warm and inviting. The sound of birds can be heard all around. The distant sights of the city can be seen and the calm is broken by the sound of a car making it's way through the fields and low hills. A grey SUV makes it's way and stops some distance from the remains of a small campfire. The doors all spring open and Stefan exits the front passenger side followed by three men. They move with a subtle grace and control. One heads to the back of the vehicle and retrieves a small duffel bag and makes his way to a spot littered with bone and ash. He carefully begins to collect the ash and bone from the area. The other three spread out and begin to watch the area for any signs of trouble.

"Gather what you can, get as much as possible."

Stefan's tone is light and relaxed, his own natural voice comes through. He seems to relish the moment of being able to just speak without layering it with meanings and nuances. He pulls out a slim cell phone from his suit jacket.

"Afternoon Sir. We're here now and it looks like events have unfolded as predicted. I have them gathering what we can salvage from the site." Several minutes pass as he listens to the voice at the other end.

"I'll make sure everything is in order. Goodbye Sir." He moves back to the SUV and takes a moment to enjoy the sunshine and open air, so very different from the club where he spent most of his time.

[BishopMcQ]

"That would be the best choice of action. What is the current relationship between you and her? It would seem that you are now in direct communication without shifting."

[Whizbang]

"Yes, I have a roomate in my head. A rather vocal roomate, who has threatened to kick my behind several times now." Angelina said with a wince that was becoming all too common.

[BishopMcQ]

Shiver nods and sips more of his tea as he watches Angelina wince in pain.

"How connected are the two of you? Does your form still shift when each roommate assumes authority?"

[Whizbang]

"I believe so. She managed to kick me to the backseat back in the metaplanes. I wasn't expecting it, though I know to always stay on my guard now."

[BishopMcQ]

"Very well. If there are no further questions, we should get some rest. I am sure that the rest of the team will be calling us as soon as they are rested, which could be as little as three hours from now."

Rising to his feet, Shiver collects the tea set and returns to the kitchen. Quietly he rinses the tea pot, disposing of the tea leaves, and goes about washing the two small teacups they had used. The his and her's disparity plainly obvious due to the need to modify everything to accomodate his large grip.

After setting the teapot and cups to dry in the rack, the old troll puts away the dishes from dinner. Their conversation had lasted long enough for the plates and pans to dry. Each mundane task allowed him the chance to spend another moment in a simple life, before he would be forced again to deceive his companion and serve the one person who truly knew him and whom he owed everything.

[Tashio]

Hiroto sat in deep thought as Bakatare explained the situation. After Arron has said his piece he spoke up. "While what he has done deserves the fate that is planned for him, I see little need for the humilation before killing him, as killing him solves the problem either way, but I understand that is what has been requested of you, I shall assist in whatever way I can but I shall not partake in the humiliation of the man."

"My abilities are at your service."

[Fenris]

Bakatare arches a brow at Hiroto as he speaks.

"Well, the destruction of the focus in public has been deemed humiliation enough. I trust that particular act does not offend?"

[Tashio]

"My appologies I assumed where I should not have that the humiliation would be of a more..." Hiroto stuggles to find the right word, "...spiteful... nature. That action does not offend.

[Fenris]

Bakatare actually chuckles. "No offense or apologies necessary. I have a dear friend with some similiar foibles."

[BishopMcQ]

Waiting an hour for the sounds of breathing in Angelina's side of the house to reach that slow, steady beat that means she is sleeping, Shiver spends the time mentally preparing his debriefing to Mynce.

Later, he slips out of the apartment and arms the security system. The night air is cool and wet as the troll makes his way through downtown to his car parked in the storage lot. From the car he calls his employer, informing her that he is on his way in.

Sitting once again in the office, he starts by asking about operations that have continued in his absence and ensures the safety and wellbeing of his pupils. With the patience that comes from certainty of position and relationship, Shiver begins. He speaks of the samurai and the attack on the field by the Ito clan as worldly matters that may need to be addressed before shifting into discussion about the journey.

[Buddha72]

Mynce sat still during the telling and made little comment, waiting for the tale to end. She seems to let the tension flow from her body and leans back in her chair. "I have no idea where you went or what that all bodes for the future. I'll see if any of the other cells have any information that may help us. In the meantime, what's your take on her threat level to herself and others around her?" As she speaks, she moves to open a small portable computer and begins to enter data waiting for Shiver's reply.

[BishopMcQ]

"At the moment, I'd say her threat is level is slightly higher than it was before the journey began, though still within acceptable limits. The ability to share information both ways rather than the one way stream which I had some ability to mediate with access to the journal has shifted and there now seems to be a constant communication between her two aspects.

"It is interesting that the Master of Forms took specific interest in her, perhaps bearing evidence to the fact that her presence in our care was guided by the necessity of the act for us to progress."

Shiver leans forward and picks his hat up from Mynce's desk, before carefully running his fingers along the inner lining of the felt and silk. Withdrawing the needle, he holds it up.

"What can you make of this? My ability to parse the deeper mysteries of energy is very limited, but this is the physical manifestation of the oath I made to the Dweller. I must thrust this needle into the flesh of another within the cycle of a moon and submit that individual to the tender mercies of an infinitely powerful, yet trapped immortal."

[Blitz]

:: Returning to Bakatare's home, Moira seems refreshed, but reserved. Dropping her overnight bag next to the couch, she sits down as they go over the plan one last time. Listening to the summary of the plan, she nods her understanding. ::

"I have asked my guardian spirit to help me learn a technique to control the crowd. I cannot say whether or not I will be able to learn this skill before we commence the plan, but I will put every effort into it. If I fail, I still have several options for manipulating the situation with my voice, but it will mean that I will be a likely target as my position will be highly visible. Any spell defense thrown my way would be quite appreciated."

[Buddha72]

Mynce leans forward and appears to look through the needle. A few minutes pass before she makes a disgusted noise and leans back into her chair. "If it something supernatural it's beyond my ability to tell. I would recommend keeping the bargain at this point, the last thing the society needs is an unknown entity like you described compromising one of our own." She nods, giving the clear sign their meeting being over, as Shiver moves to leave she looks at him once more. "Do not hesitate if it becomes necessary, she is our responsibility and the oaths we swore leave you no other choice."

[BishopMcQ]

"Duty before all."

Shiver rises to his feet and looks to his employer, gives a deep bow and leaves. He knew that to hesitate would mean the death of many and to act would lead to a death deep within himself. Necessity did not care what pains he would endure, it simply knew that the path was as it was.

Returning to the penthouse, to find it quiet as he left it, the aging troll, who if his path had laid differently before him would be vibrant and full of life rather than entering the twilight of his years, prepared to shower. The water sluiced off his scales and deposits, running red over the cut made in his forearm for the sacrifice to the spirit gateway.

He did not know why, but his conversation with Mynce had led Shiver to examine the various turns and possiblities that could have been his path. By the time the water turned cold, he was still there. Turning off the water and stepping out of the shower onto the heated tile floor, the possibilities melted away.

A human, born to the Ito Clan, stripped by his change to a troll at age 10.

An athlete, excised by the exclusion of phys-ads in professional sports.

A family, wife and child, bought part and parcel with his life by the Brimstone Society.

Thousands of minor twists and turns within those larger moments, are brushed away and absorbed into something greater like the water on his body, the towel becoming his duty and purpose. He had seen the path laid before, straight as if shot from an arrow. Shiver's life and path was simple, direct, and completely unlike those which his companions walked on. It separated them at times, but gave im the focus necessary to do what must be done.

Sleep overtakes him for a few hours, but soon he rises as he must, and finds inner peace in meditation. Shortly before sunrise, Shiver finishes his meditation but stays in his room to read. Soon Angelina would start making breakfast and he would enter the public areas. He did not know how many more breakfasts they would have here together, but it was not important. They would have as many as they were meant to have, no fewer and no more.

[Fenris]

Bakatare nods as Moira describes the situation, mentally evaluating what he could of her appearance. She looked weary, but it was a subtle weariness, one that had nothing to do with how much sleep she'd had lately. Weary as if a massive burden had been lifted, and still unsure how to react without that weight present. But no mind...

He mentally shook his head. That got them nowhere, and details had to be decided, plans had to be disbursed. He sent a quick note over to Shiver to plan a meeting with the troll and the split woman later to pass along the details, and a second to Madam Yin to get the details of the catering company they were supposed to move with. The team members would have to arrive with them, work with them at least a little in the beginning before Michael arrived to avoid being obvious.

[Buddha72]

Bakatare

You recieve a small alert for a new incoming message. As you quickly access it the text scrolls by.

I will be using a small catering company by the name of Josie's Delights. I have contacted the on-site manager for the party and explained that the client requested a certain look to the serving staff and that I would be supplying a few extra waiters for the event. Your group will need to be there by 8 pm to get uniforms and go over the night's schedule. I need some more information about the entertainment you will be providing. Is it a man or a woman? What form will this entertainment take? Singing, dancing, etc. Please let me know as soon as possible. Yin

Shiver & Angelina

You soon find a message from the rest of the team asking for a location to meet and go over the details of the job.

[Fenris]

He takes a moment to jot down a reply as the information arrives.

The entertainment will be a female singer. She's very good, but she's very local, a definite unknown. I can arrange for a sample of her music for you it if would be helpful.

I'll also make sure the additional "staff" is there on time.

I am grateful again for your assistance in this matter, and I will endeavor to limit the collateral effects to your club and clientele. It is my sincere hope that the benefits of our arrangement will surpass the drawbacks.

Looking up to the group again, he relays Madam Yin's information to the group.

"Additionally, I've one avenue left for additional information. I'm not sure how vital it is at this point, but more information is never a bad thing, and it might be useful in dealing with Michael directly. Although cliched, the meeting is in the Barrens, only at night, and I've been warned to bring along physical protection." He glances at Aaron and Hiroto.

"You two seem the most directly capable in that regard. I'll like you to accompany me this evening to find out what we can find out."

[Blitz]

"That should give me time to mentally prepare myself as well. Hopefully if all goes well, I will be able to keep the crowd relatively in check so that there is less collateral damage and less interferance. It should also help us to escape once the job's been done."