The grey realm is called such not because everything is grey, but rather, because it's between true worlds. And...okay. There's a lot of grey. The labyrinth-like, rocky terrain positively flows with supernatural energy, and everything from deep caverns to thin tunnels to soaring arches define the landscape. Still...things seem almost ephemeral, and distant things in particular don't look solid. Or real.

---

"You know..."

Kaies stops in mid-BS.

"Holy shit." Quickly he unclasps his briefcase and unlocks Linna.

"Good morning, Kaies!"

"Good morning, Linna. Linna, based on the terrain, where are we?"

The little robot looks around from her perch on his hand. "Based on the terrain, we are... unknown region detected."

"Figures," Kaies sighs, and slips her into the front pocket of his shirt. Obediently she holds onto the lining, looking around and scanning everything.

A quiet chittering emits briefly from behind a nearby rock. There's a little pause. Then it begins again, from another direction, and closer.

"Who's there?" Kaies calls, slowly heading that way with his briefcase and a busy Linna.

"Shree!" And a little blur of pink, maybe two feet in diameter, whizzes for Kaies's head in full pounce, fangs and claws bared and long ears flat back.

The first instinct for Kaies is generally the proper one. And in this case, the proper one is to home run swing his briefcase.

"Eeemurf!" "Murf," of course, is the exclamation of getting a face full of briefcase, and a three foot, cat-elf esque creature tumbles to the ground, dazed, shaking her wild, pink mane and twitching her big rounded ears agitatedly. "Owww...you're a brute! Brute!" She rubs her nose and sniffles, and tries to scamper up a nearby rock with her sturdy claws...though being thoroughly stunned puts her back on her tailed bum. "Hmph. Brute."

Kaies blinks. Cat.

Cat.

Talking giant frigging cat.

After a few seconds of this, the pink-haired creature tilts her mostly-humanoid face, and then twitches intentionally in a kitty-esque way. "What's wrong? Pretty boy never seen a lady before." She strikes a pose...and, still a little dazed, sits down hard again.

"Damnit!" And she hisses.

"Excuse me! Kaies is ailurophobic. And you resemble a cat." Linna salutes.

"Eep! Little tiny person! And I'm tiny-a-phobic and...wait." The girl's hands drop to the ground and she crouches, wiggling low. "Hunting instinct! Right!" She grins, and wiggles, ears flat back.

"Warning! Feline attack position determined." Linna squeals.

Kaies snaps into reality at that. "Only if you like chewing something harder than the rock you're standing on."

"Hmm..." the pink-haired creature just trots along the clearing's perimeter around them, sizing them up. Really, she seems too small to be likely to do any damage to an alert Kaies...but she doesn't get enough amusement. Her rounded-off ears, each about half the size of her face, are quite perked. "How chewy are you?"

"Depends on the mood, I guess." Kaies watches her, not nervously, but obscenely alert. Cats freak him the hell out.

The kitty snickers, and plops back on her haunches, seeming satisfied with that answer. "So why are you stepping on my rocks? I'm still paying for those you know."

"I was looking for a friend. A pale girl, pretty white hair." He looks down upon this uber-cute kitten thing. "And my sense of direction is laughable.

"Hmm..." the kitty purrs as she thinks. "Nope! Oh, wait...I think I might know who you mean. I didn't know she had friends! She's kinda...mean. And throws things. And bit me. And she's not even feline." The pink thing pouts.

"Well, she had a long couple of days. She's probably just stressed." Kaies nods. "Can you show us to her? I really want to give her this present today." He looks at Linna.


"Ooo...present? What'd'ja get her I wanna see!" And, with no more fanfare, the kitty bunches her taut little muscles and pounces him again.

This time Kaies doesn't raise the briefcase. She's quite strong for her size, and he ends up on his back with a bumped head and a squealing Linna in his pocket. He blinks. "The tiny person is her present."

"Aww, how cute!" The kitty pats his head. "You're all right. I'm Shira'desariphen'uhalu. But mortals don't like that kinda name and they like to call me 'Phen' or 'Halu!' or 'you little bitch!'" She smiles brightly.

Kaies smiles right back. Okay. More human than cat. And feels kinda nice. 

"What do you like to be called, though?"

"I dunno. 'You little bitch' usually means I'm having fun." She snickers, though there's a certain feline quality to the sound. "Let's go with 'Hal.' 'Halu!' is only good if you add the exclamation point thingybobber, you know?"

"Quite."

"Good morning, Hal!" Linna salutes the kitten. "My name is Linna. This is Kaies." She points at him. "Requesting a return to vertical position!"

"Only if talk dark and smack-y promises to keep his purse to himself!" Hal pokes his nose definively at that. "So there!" is implied.

"You have my word. And my dignity, but my word as well." Kaies chuckles. Now it's kinda uncomfortable.

Pinky grins and jumps off his chest. It's quite a good-sized landing platform for someone of her stature.

Kaies rises with little difficulty. He is in good shape, after all.

"Thank you! This is much niceer." Linna beams.

"So... Hal. Hello." Kaies grins. Proper introductions and all.

"Hi! Wanna go see the white haired lady now?" Hal sways around happily.

"Unless we can be there faster, now works." A soft chuckle and a poke from Linna ensue.

"Yay! Follow fast now." And then Hal scampers off on all fours at quite the impressive clip, laughter trailing after her.

"Hold on Linna," Kaies sighs, taking off after her. Long legs make for an impressive stride, and he keeps up pace pretty well. Not perfectly, though.

"Heeheehee!" It's hard to tell whether Hal's easily-sidetracked path, which often bounces from rock to rock contrary to where she needs to go, intionally lets Kaies catch up...or is just fun.

She kind of screeches to a stop at one point, though, and wrinkles her nose. "Ugh. Stink. Watch where you step, the water's hot." And stinks like sulfur. There are some boiling pools here and there.

"Probably, the region is volcanic. Sulfur is a perfect indicator where water is." Linna smiles. "Active, too."

Kaies slows his step, keeping his eyes open. "Hal, why do you inhabit such an inhospitable environment?"

"'Cause you get banished to a semi-icky place if you put something funny in an elder god's soup!" Hal is quick to explain, tail twitching amusedly as she bats at bubbles.

"Banished...?" Kaies watches her bat, wondering just what the hell he's gotten into. "Somehow I feel out of my element here..."

"Why?" Hal laughs quietly. "You've gotta be used to this stuff. You feel like a summoner!"

"A what?" Kaies tilts his head. Linna tilts hers the other way.

"He feels like meat and bone and skin to me..."

Hal purrs amusedly as she trots along. "What? You haven't studied summoning? Cause I can swear you have for some reason." She pounces over suddenly, landing right in front of him. Sniffs his hand...then grabs it. "Purdy scar. Where'd you get it?"

Kaies would have eeped, but he's sort of recovered his wits by now, and just lets her examine it. "I don't know. It was just sort of there one day." Puzzled the hell out of him, too.

"Hmm...so you haven't always had it? Kooky." Hal just grins, and scampers off. "This way!"

"Weird creature..." Kaies shrugs and takes to running again. Kintune had asked him about that scar first. She pointed it out, he looked, could not remember where he got it, and she assumed that it looked like a fingernails wound. The rest is suburban history.

"How far away is our destination?"

"On the other side of the bubbly sulphuric deathtrap!"

"Fantastic." Kaies follows her without much more complaint. Linna occasionally makes notes on their surroundings, but other than that, is quiet as well.

After awhile, one of the many times that Hal gets in front of them, a squeal and tremendous splash of mud from over the next rise punctuate a sudden end to her jabbering.

Kaies proceeds over more carefully. "Hal? Are you okay?"

Linna scans the area obediently, and points in the direction Hal seems to be.

"Can you grab my hand?"

A thoroughly muddy Hal--actually, if there's any pink kitty under the greyish goop, it's not visible--surfaces after a few seconds under the thin, warm pool of mud. "Oh no. This is niiice." She grins. "Just head down into the cave straight ahead to find your white-haired friend! She really is grumpy, though, so be careful!"

Kaies blinks. Elects not to ask. "Right. You just enjoy your mud. Thank you very much for your help." And he walks on past, heading for the indicated caves. Gray rock, black shadows, and a flicker of light inside... it reminds him of high school again. 

"Hello?" He calls at the entrace. "Minna?"

There's no answer. Just a long tunnel, and a faint white light at the end.

He proceeds carefully, feeling along the walls where it is dark. Carefully, but swiftly. "Minna?" he calls again, beginning to worry.

There's a soft grumbling. And then an opalescent dragon with a soft, flowing, white mane. It's mid-sized, as dragons go...but it could still swallow Kaies in four or five bites. The low growl intensifies at the intrusion, and its blue-green eyes search Kaies with bored interest.

Kaies freezes in place. 

"That's not Minna," Linna observes. "That is apparently a dragon. I am confused though. Dragons do not exist."

"You tell the dragon that," Kaies answers back, stepping slowly backwards.

All told, the dragon looks...sleepy. And annoyed at being awakened. "Why are you here?" she rumbles in a low bass. "If you're a vampire, you have a three second head start."

Kaies gulps. Okay. This is just fucking weird.

"That is a negative, nonexistent creature! Kaies is a human! He is 25% Lakota, 25% Greek, and 50% Caucasian! Ish." Linna salutes. "My name is Linna! May I have your name?"

The creature blinks its big eyes, turning its attention to Linna. It's quiet in the cave for several seconds...more so since the growling quiets just a little. "My name is Opal." Okay, so whoever had named the dragon wasn't big in the originality department. "Why are you here?"

"Because I am in Kaies's pocket!"

Kaies is still frozen.

The dragon breathes something that may very well be a sigh, and stretches out her long neck until her fangs are inches from Kaies's face. "Boo."

There's a strong possibility that the desired effect is not achieved here. Kaies reaches on and touches the dragon's nose, wide-eyed.

"What a beautiful creature..." he notes in awe, "... no one is ever going to believe this."

The dragon sniffs, blowing a hot wind over his hand. "Humans. Always with the dramatic personal moments. Now." Opal crosses her paws one over the other as daintily as a five ton beast can. "Why are a human and his little pet bothering me? Don't you know that waking dragons up means that you get to be dinner?"

"If we knew it was a dragon, we would have stepped more lightly." Kaies smiles at the beast. Fear will serve him no purpose. Besides, this is a dragon. Nothing next to a giant cat. "I am searching for a lost friend with white hair. We were pointed to this cave to find her."

"Hmph. Let me guess. Small pink lesser goddess, feline, with more energy than brains?"

"I'll agree with all but the last part just in case she's listening."

"Now. Why would you look for a friend in a place like this? A bit far off the beaten path, wouldn't you say?"

"A hooded fellow sent me after my fellow professor apparently kidnapped and sent Minna here. If you can help me I would be terribly appreciative of you. If not, I must get to searching for her." Kaies looks at the dragon without fear. Okay, without much fear. "I owe her a debt I have to repay before I can leave her alone."

"Hmph. Well I can certainly be more useful than that pink-haired companion of yours if I don't eat you. Tell me about this friend? Any unusual traits?"

"She has albinism. Terribly pale, with white hair. She has a prosthetic leg and a wounded arm. She is pretty, in her way, and... petite?" 

Linna sighs, and proceeds to give a very detailed description of Minna down to the way she smells.

"Hm. A prosthetic leg, and a wounded arm. Have you known her long? Does this kind of trouble befall her often?"

"I have known her about two days. But then, she has been shot and abducted in those two days, and everyone I speak to tells me about her horrible fortune." 

"Fine then. She's infused. You'll find a stone tower wrapped in a garden about twenty miles west of here. You'll find your answers from the people there."

Kaies smiles a little. "Thank you. Um... for not eatting me, and for the information. Is there something I can do to repay you...?" What do dragons like, anyway?

"Pretty, meaty men. They're good roasted." The dragon lays down her head. "Have Shira'desariphen'uhalu to guide you. And get out of here before I get hungry."

Kaies doesn't need to be told twice. He steps back several steps and turns, while Linna murmurs a thank you to the dragon.

"Hal, are you still here?"

A little burble. And then a newly dubbed mud monster springs out. "Bah!" A fang-y grin splits the mud. "I mean hi! No biting?"

"Not just yet," is the answer. "The dragon inside said my friend could be found at a stone tower to the west. Would you show me the way?"

"Ooo...more fun with the big guy and his tiny lady! Okay!" Hal clambers out of the tub and up onto the bank, shaking dry. "I don't like that tower though. All those guys are too serious. A couple of 'em are okay. But most not so much. They were mostly grey...blah. I think they just don't like pink."

"What's not to like?"

kaies isn't sure if there was sarcasm going on there or not.

"That's what I said!" And Hal gives Kaies's knees a goopy hug, then points in a melodramatic "onward!" pose. "Forward, and we'll go and ask those nasty people about...waaaait a second. Wasn't Opal your friend?"

"Not the particular friend we were looking for," Linna chimes, "but a new friend! Minna, our friend, is human! Ish."

"Ohhh...well, why didn't you say so?" Hal, thoroughly mud-caked, trots off westward, singing softly to herself about what happens when you're not specific enough. Something about fried fingers.

Kaies bites his tongue, and follows. He really can't stress just how furious this wild goose chase is making him, though he hides it very well. 

---

Gabriel Orr (1:32:01 AM): Linna continues to talk, but Kaies is far too tired to really listen.
"Linna," he says at last, "please keep a lookout. If something comes, ring your alarm."
Linna salutes. "Understood! Preparing protocol 'prevent Dean from catching Kaies asleep in his office!'"

Guardian Topaz (1:59:38 AM): As it turns out, though...another presence is aware of theirs. And a very heavily cloaked creature--not like the man from before, as this cloak is a deep royal blue--approaches quietly, looking over kaies.

Gabriel Orr (2:03:09 AM): "Weeoohweeoohweeoohweeooh get up you lazy bitch! Weeoohweeooh! The house is on fire! The kid's are on fire! You are on fire! The fire is on fire!"

Kaies practically bursts into a sitting position. He really must remember to turn that alarm down some. Before he can admonish Linna for being too jumpy with the siren, though, he catches sight of the approaching cloak and scrambles to his feet.

"Hello," he greets, "this isn't your spring, is it? Because if it is, you should work on your location sense."

Guardian Topaz (2:04:32 AM): The cloak looks over at Hal. "What are you doing with that thing?" The voice is quiet. "Don't you know that it leads creatures into the depths of nowhere and kills them for their blood?"

Gabriel Orr (2:05:11 AM): "Apparently not," Kaies sighs. This fucking sucks. "And who are you, then?'

Guardian Topaz (2:11:49 AM): "Concerned bystander. My name is Selarius."

Gabriel Orr (2:14:09 AM): "And how do I know I can trust you any more than the pink one?"

Guardian Topaz (2:15:16 AM): "Because I don't look sickeningly cute enough to lure you anywhere I wish?"

Gabriel Orr (2:16:58 AM): "Why don't we ask her, then?" Kaies tilts his head. "I'd hate to give up one maniac for a different one."

Guardian Topaz (2:19:39 AM): "You don't understand," the man hisses, still quiet, pointing at the sickeningly cute Hal just as she turns her belly up and stretches, still asleep with a dopey smile on her face. "That thing doesn't lose prey. If you tip it off, you are done for. Do you want to get to your little albino friend or not?"

Gabriel Orr (2:21:51 AM): Kaies's features darken at that. "Can you blame me for being cautious?"

Gabriel Orr (2:22:50 AM): Linna salutes the newcomer. "Good evening, sir! You must pardon Kaies. He is tired and cranky. If you have information on miss Minna it would..." whirr. "Excellent to have your help!"

Guardian Topaz (2:25:31 AM): "I don't know much. If 'Minna' is your mortal friend, I heard some whispers that the council picked up a toy. She has to be it."

Guardian Topaz (2:25:51 AM): The man glances to Linna as he speaks, expression hard to read. He wants to figure out what she is.

Gabriel Orr (2:27:04 AM): "So show us the way," Kaies says, not demanding as harshly as he feels he could.
Linna beams at the man. "Requesting declaration of your name, sir!"

Gabriel Orr signed off at 2:36:25 AM.

Gabriel Orr signed on at 2:41:34 AM.

Guardian Topaz (2:43:51 AM): "Selrius. So. Are you coming?" The man turns and walks in slightly different direction than Hal had been, licking his fangs once once his back is turned.

Gabriel Orr (2:46:08 AM): Kaies pauses. This doesn't feel right. If Hal had truly been a threat she could have killed him before, on more than one occasion. But what choice does he have? Plenty.

"One more thing. Does this cat conspire with dragons?"

Guardian Topaz (2:47:10 AM): "Opal? The white dragon? She knows better. She'd eat...'Hal'...on sight."

Gabriel Orr (2:47:41 AM): "Then why did the dragon tell me to follow her?"

Guardian Topaz (2:48:45 AM): "Because she doesn't like you? Opal isn't fond of disturbances."

Gabriel Orr (2:51:05 AM): "Fine. Lead the way." Kaies takes up his briefcase. "You'd better be on the level."


Gabriel Orr (2:53:58 AM): "Fine. Lead the way." Kaies takes up his briefcase. "You'd better be on the level."

Guardian Topaz (2:59:01 AM): "Perfectly." The man waits to smile until he's done speaking, so that it doesn't creep into his voice, without showing it. He leads deeper into an inceasingly canyon-esque landscape.

Gabriel Orr (2:59:59 AM): Kaies follows. He really wishes he had just beaten this information out of Dan, now.

Linna is just as wary as Kaies. "This looks awfully inhospitable," she notes. "Not made for humans."

Guardian Topaz (3:02:38 AM): "Of course it's not made for humans. Humans aren't meant to even be here, the metaphysical energies are too high. It's intriguing that your bulky friend is doing even as well as he is, Mini-Miss."

Gabriel Orr (3:03:47 AM): "My name is Linna! Apology extended for lack of saying so earlier!"

"Oh, I'm all kinds of special. I can clock out of work at five p.m. and be home by four thirty." Kaies smirks.

Guardian Topaz (3:07:47 AM): "Of course." The man stops walking. "Kaies, do you believe in vampires?"

Gabriel Orr (3:09:08 AM): "I've been to New Orleans, yeah."

Guardian Topaz (3:10:17 AM): "Happy Mardi Gras." And the man turns and leaps at Kaies with no warning, speed exceptional and strength inhuman, feral murder in his eyes.

Gabriel Orr (3:12:44 AM): He'd been more or less expecting it. Not that such is a tremendous factor in such situations, but it means that he has time to get his arms up to cover himself.

Guardian Topaz (3:18:20 AM): A low, growling hiss is rumbling from the vampire's throat...he's been setting this up for two many hours to fail, damnit. He needs the blood. He grabs at Kaies's wrists, trying force them both off to the sides on sheer strength to clear his neck.

Gabriel Orr (3:21:24 AM): Linna squeals. Loud, piercing, the wail of a birthing banshee. The vampire is strong, strong enough to pull his arms apart. That understood, Kaies goes for the most basic line of defense, swinging the point of his boot hard toward's his assailant's crotch.

Guardian Topaz (3:24:48 AM): The vampire snarls...he's used to victims fighting back in no-holds-barred techniques, and he's never been under the impression that Kaies will somehow be an easy meal. He just really, really needs a victim. Any victim.

A leg flashes up just so...there's some damage done southward, but not more than a grunt's worth. His shin takes almost all the damage. This does significantly throw his balance, though, and his grip on Kaies's hands loses strength

Gabriel Orr (3:28:13 AM): It works for him. Kaies is tired, hungry, but more importantly, pissed off.  With a weakened body and clouded judgment he is probably in a lot of trouble here. He shoves forward as hard as he can, hoping to fling the monster off.

AIM is an advertising supported product


Guardian Topaz (10:57:16 PM): Gabriel Orr (3:21:24 AM): Linna squeals. Loud, piercing, the wail of a birthing banshee. The vampire is strong, strong enough to pull his arms apart. That understood, Kaies goes for the most basic line of defense, swinging the point of his boot hard toward's his assailant's crotch.
Guardian Topaz (3:24:48 AM): The vampire snarls...he's used to victims fighting back in no-holds-barred techniques, and he's never been under the impression that Kaies will somehow be an easy meal. He just really, really needs a victim. Any victim.

A leg flashes up just so...there's some damage done southward, but not more than a grunt's worth. His shin takes almost all the damage. This does significantly throw his balance, though, and his grip on Kaies's hands loses strength
Gabriel Orr (3:28:13 AM): It works for him. Kaies is tired, hungry, but more importantly, pissed off.  With a weakened body and clouded judgment he is probably in a lot of trouble here. He shoves forward as hard as he can, hoping to fling the monster off.

Guardian Topaz (10:58:41 PM): This much, at least, works. The vampire grabs his balance nimbly, and snarls. "This isn't personal. Don't fight me and I'll leave you barely alive. But alive."

Gabriel Orr (11:01:13 PM): "You misled me once already." Kaies rubs his wrists, easing the raw soreness caused by the vampire's grip. "It's insulting to think you would expect me to believe you again." He's just stalling. He has no idea what to do here, not really.

Guardian Topaz (11:07:37 PM): "Fine. Die." And then the vampire springs at him again, a hardened metal claw that had been concealed under a long, slitted sleeve slashing out.

Hal is too far away...she's scmpering fast. "Oh gosh oh gosh oh gosh oh gosh..." She squeezes her eyes shut. "Come on come on come on remember! I know you have somefink magical in you damn you do it!" A burst of energy, one of the few really divine things she's done lately, tears towards his mind faster than she can...just trying to make him remember

Gabriel Orr (11:15:53 PM): Kaies jerks back, but really there is nothing he can do against a creature of such strength and speed. He lifts his hands to at least block the claw, sighing inwardly. What a horrid place to die.

The air before Kaies quiet suddenly darkens. The smell of cat fur abounds, and the hairs upon the back of his neck stand upon end. Something - something big - appears before him, facing the vampire. Like some immense, blocky version of Hal, it is more feline than human. It's strange growl sounds rather like a diesel engine at idle.

Guardian Topaz (11:18:41 PM): The vampire skids, changing direction without stopping, and his claw jerks up towards the demon's throat. His face, though, is startled.

Gabriel Orr (11:20:58 PM): In one of the rare occasions where the term actually applies, the reaction of the demon is perfectly cat-like. A backspring bowls Kaies over while putting the demon out of range. A near instant pounce of flashing cat-claws is the reaction.

Guardian Topaz (11:31:16 PM): The vampire jerks aside, but the demon's reactions are at least as fast as his...a deep set of crimson gashes appears as though by magic at his chest, and he clutches the wound, fangs bared. Damnit. Damnit damnit. He's debating running. He really does need the blood. But that's a demon. Demon.

Gabriel Orr (11:34:09 PM): Kaies looks up from the ground, his senses returning.

"What the hell is it with me and cats today!"

Just like that, the demon vanishes into the air. The darkness of a moment ago dissipates, flaring brightly as a white-haired woman appears in his place. She looks around curiously, at Kaies, and then at the vampire. Her milk white eyes blink several times.

Guardian Topaz (11:37:42 PM): Sersarius's expression has something to do with the phrase "you've got to be bloody kidding me." His eyes are locked on the woman, beyond wary and clutching the wound on his chest. Damnit. Damnit damnit.

Gabriel Orr (11:39:11 PM): The woman gazes curiously upon him. "You are kindred," she murmurs, showing off her pearl-white fangs. "Come. I will feed you." She holds out her slenders wrist for Sersarius, not a touch of falsity tainting her symphonic voice.

Guardian Topaz (11:44:35 PM): The vampire isn't sure about her...that's for sure. There's no part of him that's not wary...no fiber of his being that isn't about to snap from tension. His eyes travel to Kaies briefly, then back to the woman. He wouldn't consider it if he weren't desperate. But...he is. He takes a deep breath and steps towards her, still ready to spring back.

Gabriel Orr (11:46:26 PM): The woman does not move. Her eyes remain locked upon the other vampire, though, equally wary. Kaies just looks on, spellbound, by the creatures standing before him.

"Your destruction means nothing to me," she quietly intones, "do not be afraid."

Guardian Topaz (11:48:40 PM): Sesarius is quiet...he takes her wrist gently and gingerly, though the grip quickly strengthens...which is perfectly instinctive. "Who are you?

Gabriel Orr (11:51:18 PM): "Amilei Lei," is her answer, "the human reminds me of an old love interest of mine. So. If I feed you, you will leave him alone." She closes her eyes for a moment, steeling herself against the impending drain.

Guardian Topaz (11:58:49 PM): Sesarius is quiet for several moments, and then nods. "Agreed." She smells like a vampire. He still isn't positive that ther eisn't treachery afoot--after all, vampires from different keeps don't always get along like brothers-in-arms--but at least she's telling the truth about that. And...he doesn't think that she's lying. He's really too far overdue feeding to think about it long, and his fangs slide quite cleanly into his wrist, to an immediate change in his demanor. More fearal, less defensive. Focussed, and not. A vampire.

After a few moments...

"Kaies!" Hal scampers up. "You oaf, why did you wander up to a vampire like that and oooo pretty white hair!"

Gabriel Orr (12:01:21 AM): Amilei cringes now and again, but on the whole seems mostly impassive about the situation. She has been hungry before, too.

Kaies looks back to Hal. "I was tired. He appealed to my not getting killed side."

Amilei sets her hand against the other vampire's forehead. "That is enough."

Guardian Topaz (12:07:26 AM): Sesarius takes a moment to acquisce--it takes that long for it to sink in. But once he understands, largely because of the touch, his fangs grudgingly slide out of her wrist. He sinks to his knees, catching his breath and strength. After the fact he feels awkward, but... "Thank you, miss."

Gabriel Orr (12:09:11 AM): "Do not trouble him again," she warns. She turns, smiles a pretty smile upon Kaies and Hal. "K...kaies? Is it really you? And..." blinks. "Felina? Darling, what have you done to your hair?"

Kaies just glances at Hal. Anytime now, he needs to go ahead and wake up.

Guardian Topaz (12:12:20 AM): The more-kitty-than-serinian little cat divinity blinks. "I dunno who's Felina? Your eyes are pretty!" She bounces, and straightens up, clarifying her three and a half feet of height.

Gabriel Orr (12:14:43 AM): "Oh... I'm sorry, you sort of resemble someone I knew long ago." Amilei steps forward, smiles a weak smile. The feeding drained her pretty well. "And thank you. You are adorable." She looks down. "Kaies..."

He looks back. "How do you know my name?"

"You do not remember me?"

"I've never met you."

Amilei's smile saddens a bit. "This must be a different parallel..."

Guardian Topaz (12:18:38 AM): Hal smiles dopily. "Kaies is cool I think he was reincarnated for some reason and I think he used to be a mage or something before but why did he choose to come back like that it's kinda sorta unusual but I'm sure he had a reason."

Gabriel Orr (12:23:16 AM): Amilei kneels next to him, eyes locked upon him. "Everything has a reason... the Kaies I knew was a medium, and beautiful. So beautiful..."

Kaies edges back a little bit. "My wife thinks I am, anyway."

Amilei's head lowers a bit. "You summoned me. You must have some of the old Kaies within you. And you," she glances at Hal. "Are you not divine?"

Guardian Topaz (12:30:34 AM): *munches a wrap*

Guardian Topaz (12:30:48 AM): *or half of one, couldn't finish it earlier

Guardian Topaz (12:33:00 AM): "Yup!" Hal purrs happily. "My name Shira'desariphen'uhalu! I'm a goddess!"

Gabriel Orr (12:35:51 AM): "So you are." She looks around. "Where are we?"

Guardian Topaz (12:38:18 AM): "This is a nasty place where a council of creepy people meets and banished people go!"

Gabriel Orr (12:40:08 AM): "Ah..." Amilei looks down again. "Kaies, I..." she fades a bit. "I have to go. I ... never got to tell you how much I loved you..."

Gabriel Orr (12:40:28 AM): Only the first few words actually make it through to this ether realm.

Guardian Topaz (12:41:04 AM): Hal blinks. "Hey? Where'd she go? She seemed nice."

Gabriel Orr (12:44:05 AM): Kaies just stares. "Back where she came." He looks down at the scar on his hand, which is burning for some reason, to see it glowing a soft blue color. "Hal, what happened to me? They appeared just when I needed help."

Guardian Topaz (12:49:08 AM): "Why, you summoned them of course!" Hal smiles sweetly. "I'm not sure, but I think you lived and died once before, and chose to be reincarnated for some reason. If that's really the case, you only mostly started over in life. All the stuff you knew before is still way way back in your brain...somewhere. You just need the right motivation to grab it out!"

Gabriel Orr (12:53:51 AM): "And she was..." he blinks. "Whoa. Linna, please remind me that I am happily married."

"kaies, remember when you traded your freedom for a bigger bed?"

"Thank you."

Guardian Topaz (12:55:59 AM): "But...she was hot." Hal nods, lips pursed in utmost seriousness.

Gabriel Orr (12:58:23 AM): "At least part of this dream has been pleasant, then." Kaies rises, sighing unhappily. So now he's off track and distracted by a pale girl who may not exist. Splendid. "Hal, how far are we off the way?"

Guardian Topaz (1:00:07 AM): "Uuuum...notbad. Twenty three shakes of a cat's tail."

Gabriel Orr (1:04:22 AM): "Do I get to watch?" 

Guardian Topaz (1:04:53 AM): "Sure! Want extra wiggle?"

Gabriel Orr (1:05:04 AM): "By all means."

Guardian Topaz (1:08:32 AM): "Heehee. Wiggle! You okay, muscles?"

Gabriel Orr (1:09:59 AM): "I am spooked beyond all description." He smiles. "But physically I am fine.

Guardian Topaz (1:11:56 AM): "Yay! You're lucky, you know. He wanted to eat you. And not like a good way either. Like, the bad way. Oh well. Follow follow! We'll find your other white-haired girlfriend!"

Gabriel Orr (1:13:09 AM): Kaies wearily follows Hal once again. He's just too tired to argue... but more, the episode of a moment ago is roaring through his mind. Had he actually done that? Summoned the demon, and then the woman? Perhaps it is only something that functions here in La La land. But it plagues him nonetheless.

Guardian Topaz (1:15:19 AM): Sesarius finally stands up, wiping the blood from his lower lip. God he feels so much better. "Who are you looking for?"

Gabriel Orr (1:16:55 AM): Kaies looks back at him. "A friend. Looks sort of like that woman did." 

Guardian Topaz (1:21:50 AM): "At the tower? You'll need help. I owe you, I think, so I'll come.

Gabriel Orr (1:23:26 AM): "Negative! You have proven yourself untrustworthy, unfriendly meat creature!" Linna crosses her arms over her little chest. Kaies nods.

"She has a point, you know."

Guardian Topaz (1:25:06 AM): If you don't think that yuo could use the help f a full-blooded vampire with all applicable skills, tehn I'll leave. That's your choice, and would certainly save me the potential danger."

Gabriel Orr (1:25:53 AM): Kaies sighs. "Hal? What do you think?"

Guardian Topaz (1:29:54 AM): "I dunno. He's a lying ass, yup! A lot of 'em are, they're naturally good at it. But, he really needed blood before, and he doesn't so much now. So I dunno. Less reason to lie now." She bounces from one foot to the other.

Gabriel Orr (1:32:41 AM): Kaies looks back to the vampire. "I saw the demon claw you. Were you wounded?"

Guardian Topaz (1:33:44 AM): "Yes." This he relates without much tonal inclination. It just is, and will probably heal in a few weeks.

Gabriel Orr (1:34:43 AM): "So come if you think you can. If not, go home." He turns back to Hal. "I think I'm starting to get the hang of this place."

Guardian Topaz (1:43:38 AM): "Oh? How's that?" She purrs as she trots along.

Sesarius pulls up his hood to shield himself from the sun, and follows behind quietly.

Gabriel Orr (1:44:22 AM): "Whatever anyone says, throw a brick at them." He nods. Linna giggles.

Guardian Topaz (1:46:44 AM): "Wheee! Wait." Hal blinks, picks up a reasonably rock, looks at it, and pitches it at Kaies's head. "Welcome!" And she scampers forward again, humming to herself.

Gabriel Orr (1:48:35 AM): Kaies just lets it plink off his head, sighs again. Minna had better at least shower him with praise for this.

He plods along in relative silence, still too tired to be all that useful. The scar continues to glow, though, and this is comforting to him in some strange way.

Guardian Topaz (1:56:02 AM): Eventually they come to a fairly hospitable valley. "There." Hal nods sagely. "This is a good place. And only an hour's walk to the tower. Let's stop here, and get muscles some rest! And Halu! too!"

Gabriel Orr (1:57:38 AM): Kaies flops down without complaint. "Oh good. Night."

Linna pokes him. "He's asleep." Poke poke. "That was fast."

Guardian Topaz (2:02:19 AM): "Hee. Goodnight! No biting!" She shakes a finger at Sersarius, who just bows his head non-commitally, hood finally down now that the moon is out. Then Hal flops, and is out like a light.

Gabriel Orr (2:03:20 AM): Linna glances up at the vampire. "So what do you do now? Sleep? Run around?"

Guardian Topaz (2:06:52 AM): "Keep watch. Make sure that nothing bigger than me eats your friend."

Gabriel Orr (2:08:05 AM): "Oh, I wouldn't worry about that." Linna smiles. "Big things in small packages, you know. I'm a baaaaaad girl."

Guardian Topaz (2:13:37 AM): "Oh are you?" The vampire regards her with quiet amusement. "And just what makes you so bad?"

Gabriel Orr (2:16:53 AM): "I have a security system!" Linna climbs out of Kaies's pocket and walks calmly over to a dead shrub. She reaches out and touches it. "Run: Eep!" A surge of electricity rolls through the browned bush, igniting it in a heartbeat. "Nuclear cells have much juice."

Guardian Topaz (2:20:04 AM): The vampire smirks. "That they do. So is blowing things up your primary hobby, Miss Linna?"

Gabriel Orr (2:22:08 AM): "Negative. I am a research-oriented personal computer! I even get satellite radio. Watch." She opens her little mouth, and the strains of 'Tequila' pours through for about two seconds. "The more I learn the more advanced my intelligence becomes. If I learn enough, I can be as free as anyone else."

Guardian Topaz (2:25:04 AM): The vampire blinks. "Really now. So, as of now, you're a...programmed intelligence?"

Gabriel Orr (2:26:43 AM): "The correct terminology is 'artificial intelligence', but that is also affirmative." Linna bunches her hands upon her hips. "My programming was small-scale. But Kaies gave me the ability to learn."

Guardian Topaz (2:28:20 AM): "I see. So that muscle-head created you? Hm. Interesting. Tell me, doll-working-on-girl, what do you know about that cat creature he summoned earlier? Or the other vampire?"

Gabriel Orr (2:30:03 AM): "Absolutely nothing. I have seen many new things on this trip." Linna stretches cutely, a gesture picked up from watching the girls who hang around at the university. "Correction: almost nothing. A particular surge in beta particles surrounded them when they appeared and disappeared. I am still figuring it out. According to our science such things cannot happen."

Guardian Topaz (2:31:21 AM): "I see. But, it did. So your 'science' needs to be updated. Yes?" The vampire's actually amused to no end by this little creature, and his eyes sparkle quietly.

Also, he really does feel a whole hell of a lot better after Amilei's generosity.

Gabriel Orr (2:32:44 AM): "Kaies always said that science is only as good as the questions it asked. Or that's what he says he says." Linna trots back over to her master, and pokes him again. "He's very smart for someone made of meat."

Guardian Topaz (2:33:19 AM): "Yes. There seems to be a lot to him, to be sure." This is noted more thoughtfully.

Gabriel Orr (2:34:47 AM): "You ask a lot of question for someone who was so violent a minute ago." Linna looks back at him. "I want to scan you."

Guardian Topaz (2:36:10 AM): "Yes, well, everyone's crabby when he's hungry. And how do you propose to do that?"

Gabriel Orr (2:37:22 AM): "With scanners. And a thermometer. I just need permission." Linna bounces. "I am updating my science."

Guardian Topaz (2:38:04 AM): "I see. Well, no probing. Deal?" Mostly just because Linna interests him. Goodness knows he could squish her if smething took a hairy turn.

Gabriel Orr (2:40:14 AM): "Deal. Sit."

Guardian Topaz (2:41:30 AM): Sesarius smirks, and does this, on a reasonably flat rock.

Gabriel Orr (2:43:59 AM): Linna hops up on the rock, displaying a significant agility for her size. Her eyes film over with a green coating, and buzzing sound emits from her mouth. A beam of flourescent (vampire-safe) light filters over him, analyzing him from head to toe within a minute. "Thank you! Ooh... hemoglobin deficiency compared to humans. Six base pairs. Ooh. No stomach. Cool!"

Guardian Topaz (2:45:35 AM): The vampire's lips finally twitch into a grin, so that his fangs glint just a little. "Handy little tools you've got there."

Gabriel Orr (2:46:50 AM): "I was built with more data-acquiring tools than 'current data' tools. Learning!" She looks at Kaies. "That's funny. His genes are the same as yours."

Guardian Topaz (2:48:13 AM): Sesarius blinks. "How 'the same'?"

Guardian Topaz (2:48:28 AM): Kaies doesn't smell like a vampire, that's for damned sure.

Gabriel Orr (2:49:52 AM): "According to my analysis," Linna slips into her academic voice, "Kaies's genetic makeup contains six base pairs. Normal life on our planet only has four."

Guardian Topaz (2:50:58 AM): "I see...interesting. And what do you suppose that means, squirt?" Eh. There are less interesting things to talk about to pass a night watch.

Gabriel Orr (2:54:07 AM): "Potential for change." Linna bounces about, looking at Kaies, looking at the vampire. "Four base pairs. Humans have evolved four times. Neanderthal, Australopithicus, Homo Erectus, Homo Sapiens. You, six base pairs. Hominid Sapien. Hominid Nocturnum. Ooh! I learned a lot."

Guardian Topaz (2:55:41 AM): "Hominid Sapien? Which would that have been?"

Gabriel Orr (2:56:15 AM): "A guess. I am filling in the blanks." Linna smiles up at him.

Guardian Topaz (3:09:32 AM): "I see. Makes sense. So. Well, good for you. Do overly intelligent wind-up dolls sleep? Because it's going to be a long day tomorrow."

Gabriel Orr (3:10:47 AM): "Maybe. Do jackasstic vampires go fuck themselves?" Linna grins. "I learned lots of stuff from humans."

Guardian Topaz (3:16:14 AM): "Charming, little lady." He's thoroughly amused by Linna, he is.

Guardian Topaz (10:42:46 PM): Guardian Topaz (3:09:32 AM): "I see. Makes sense. So. Well, good for you. Do overly intelligent wind-up dolls sleep? Because it's going to be a long day tomorrow."
Gabriel Orr (3:10:47 AM): "Maybe. Do jackasstic vampires go fuck themselves?" Linna grins. "I learned lots of stuff from humans."
Guardian Topaz (3:16:14 AM): "Charming, little lady." He's thoroughly amused by Linna, he is.

Gabriel Orr (10:46:27 PM): Linna crawls back into Kaies's pocket. "My bettery is good for a looooong time. So I have no need for sleep

Guardian Topaz (10:49:05 PM): "Fair enough. My... 'battery' is good for awhile longer as well. I'll take some rest nearer to sunrise. I'm going to find a better vantage point to keep watch, Linna. Goodnight."

Gabriel Orr (10:51:47 PM): "Goodnight." Linna sits carefully back in the pocket. She has no idea when Kaies is going to wake up; he had an awfully long day.

Guardian Topaz (10:56:03 PM):

---

The next day dawns clear and cold. There's a big difference between night and day temperatures. Hal is curled up in a tight little ball fairly late. Sesarius is asleep as well. He'd kept watch all night, and now it's his turn to rest. He'd asked linna to be loud if anything out of the ordinary happened.

Gabriel Orr (10:59:35 PM): Kaies rises surprisingly early as far as Linna is concerned, though he does favor her with a rest by shutting her down. A stretch and a yawn later he finds himself just sort of relaxing in the much more hospitable conditions here. Wondering how he got here. Why. And when's lunch.

Guardian Topaz (11:13:32 PM): Hal is wondering that too. She'd scooched much closer to him in the night, drawn by his warmth. Eventually she starts gnawing on his shoulder in her sleep.

Gabriel Orr (11:16:54 PM): Kaies yeeps and jumps, rolling to safety. "Gah! Hal, please, no biting!"

Guardian Topaz (11:18:24 PM): "Geep!" She wakes up, startled. "Hey! My mouth tastes like Kaies!"

Gabriel Orr (11:19:35 PM): Kaies looks up to the sky, sighs quietly. "That is because you were munching me in your sleep, you know."

Guardian Topaz (11:21:12 PM): "Oh?" Hal licks her fangs. "You taste good. Good morning!"

Gabriel Orr (11:23:42 PM): "Don't get used to it. Good morning." His stomach rmbles, but he ignores it. "So Minna is... where, again?"

Guardian Topaz (11:28:11 PM): "She's a little ways that-a-way." Hal points. "Hungry? There's stuff around here, but not much between here and there."

Gabriel Orr (11:35:38 PM): "Quite. What's good around here, then, Hal?"

Guardian Topaz (11:39:27 PM): "Try the blue purple thingies by the stream! They're good."

"And will also make humans ill," Sesarius notes, yawning and just waking up. "Try the yellow ones, they grow by stagnant water.

Gabriel Orr (11:45:10 PM): Kaies sighs. Flips Linna on.

"Good morning, everybody!"

"Linna, please scan the vegetation here for edible food."

"... scanning... see that yellow fruit down there?"

Guardian Topaz (11:53:06 PM): "Uh-huh." Sesarius pulls his hood down, and dozes back off. He still wants to bite Kaies's neck. But he'd made a promise to the white-hired lady. The next mortal he sees is fair game, though.

Hal bounces around while Kaies retrieves food.

Gabriel Orr (11:55:06 PM): He eats pretty sparingly, wrapping some more of the stuff up in his briefcase to save for later. He knows better than to stuff himself and run; though the fruit is pretty good.

"All right," he declares at last, "ready to go."

Guardian Topaz (12:02:21 AM): The vampire yawns, nods, and stands up.

"Whee! Off we go!" Hal declares, and pounces off in that direction.

"Hal?"

"Yus?" she bounces back around at the vampire's voice.


Guardian Topaz (12:02:53 AM): "Other way."

"Yay!" And she scampers off that way, leaving Sesarius in the dust and shaking his head.

Gabriel Orr (12:04:33 AM): Kaies shrugs. "I feel my brain shrinking." He follows Hal, watching his surroundings much more carefully now that they are closer to the destination. Watching the vampire, too.

Guardian Topaz (12:13:56 AM): Sesarius is still very much a predator creature, that much is evident just in how he walks. He's just about as much a vampire as a vampire can be. But that also means he's subdued and perfectly content to keep to his hood in the bright daylight. He does havae a charm against it, but it isn't as good as the ones used by the vampire's of Korliss's keep.

Startlingly enough, the trip goes fairly quietly. What must be the "tower" is rolling gradually into slight. It fits right into the landscape, comprised of a slightly conical central stone tower, and complex, intertwining staircases encase it.

Sesarius is quiet. Hal growls. "These people are creepy."

Gabriel Orr (12:15:16 AM): "Creepy like stalking uncle creepy, or like..." he looks at Sesarius. "This guy?"

Guardian Topaz (12:21:11 AM): Hal purrs amusedly.

"Creepy like 'look at us, we're dark and mysterious' creepy," the vampire clarifies.

Gabriel Orr (12:22:48 AM): "Ahh... okay." The professor pauses a second. "What sort of danger is Minna actually in, here?"

Guardian Topaz (12:26:44 AM): "It's hard to say." Sesarius is the one speaking. "Puss here seems to think that your friend must be an infused human, which stands to reason since a lot of them are carried through here. But it isn't known, at least in my circles, exactly why or what they want with them. A lot of them turn up dead, but some don't."

Gabriel Orr (12:27:39 AM): "Then the sooner she is out of there, the better. And the quicker I can get home and have some tequila." Kaies nods. 

Guardian Topaz (12:35:22 AM): Sesarius nods. "I would recommend just going up and knocking on teh door, and asking. After all, the nature of the group isn't really known, and you may be accomodated. You may not. Leave at least me, behind possibly Puss. If you can't make headway the polite way, we can be your contingencies. They may be warier if they know you actually have the means to be a threat."

Kaies gazes upon the structure, taking in its particulars. Hardly a place he would call hospitable, but at the same time, it is no fortress. "Alright, then, I am going." And he heads off that way.

"Hey wait I'll come too!" And Hal scampers off after him. She's smarter than she looks, and knows that Kaies being here on his own makes him look more like a target than with an admittedly miniscule goddess following along.

The front entrance takes awhile to find...just because it doesn't look like much of a grand entrance. It's stone as well, with one small-ish wood section for knocking.

"... but I guess this is better than I expected for hospitality." Kaies bangs gently upon the piece of wood, glancing at Hal, and then back. Deep breath.

The result is almost instantaneous. the door opens just a bit, absolutely silent despite its great bulk, to revel a grey cloaked, hooded man on the other side. "Can we help you?"

"Possibly," Kaies answers, his best face forward. "I am looking for a young woman with albinism, a Minna Adair. I was wondering if she might be here." Breathe out.

There's a pause. "Why are you looking for her?"

"She is my friend, and her sudden disappearance has me concerned for her safety." Kaies looks at Hal. Better not mention Hal's involvement yet. "I owe her a debt."

Hal's busy licking herself, anyway.

The man pauses again, a few moments. "Your friend. Tell me, how long have you known her? What's your relationship? And what is this 'debt' owed for?"

"About three days. She is a colleague and fellow coffee-aficianado." Kaies cringes a bit. "And she took a bullet for me." So it's not exactly true in the expected sense. That doesn't make it wrong.

"I see." There's still another pause. This man--he's purple, by the way, with off-grey hair--doesn't seem to be big on hurrying his answers or thinking more quickly than he has to. "Come in." He steps back from the door. "She isn't here, though."

Kaies feels his natural distrust kicking him in the ass right about now. "Thank you," he politely says, again glancing to Hal. "I apologize, but I really am in a rush..."

"Then just be content in the knowledge that she's being well taken care of." And the door shuts.

He blinks. Clenches his fists. Then composes himself and quietly knocks on the door again.

It opens again. And, as though everything is simply starting over again... "Can we help you?"

"I was wondering," Kaies begins, pleasantly enough, "if you could direct me to where I might find Minna Adair."

The purple fellow blinks slowly. "No."

"What if I said please?" Twitch.

"Think of us as the equivalent of your 'witness protection.' We don't leak such information. I'm sorry. But no."

Kaies frowns markedly. "What if I said tell me what you know or I will break your face?"

"I would laugh at you and shut the door."

Hal purrs amusedly.

Kaies twitches again. "Look, I just want my friend back. I don't know who the hell you are, but you have no right to detain her. Now, please, help me."

The purple fellow regards Kaies for a few seconds. "Would you like to come in? I can't give you the answers you want, but some of my colleagues can."

"Certainly," he smiles, though it's false. Hal isn't going to help him. It's probably a trap, but... what the hell.

The man nods, and steps back from the door. "Right this way, then."

And in Kaies goes. His head is held up, hands down, and eyes scanning every inch of the setting before him. Creepy was absolutely right; these people have a ghastly sense of decor.

The man glances down to Hal as he shuts the door behind her. "Normally I wouldn't consider letting you in. But she's a legitimizing factor."

Hal just smiles and trots along.

The purple-skinned man is silent a bit as they walk. "I can't say whether you're legitimately a friend of hers," he starts finally, "and it's pointless to banter back and forth on it, we both know I hae no real way of being sure. But if you are, I'm sorry about all this."

"Hey, it is alright. I can't say whether you're lying to me or not, so we are on even terms I think." Kaies lets some jest into his voice, though of course his wits are still about him. "We'll find out one way or another pretty soon."

"Yes. We will."

Hal sniffs things occasionally as they trot along. Most of it smells like rock. Imagine that.

Eventually the token small, sharp-eyed, long bearded old man meets them in the hall. He doesn't walk fast, but each movement has purpose. He stops, and looks up at Kaies. Just looks.

Kaies nearly steps on him, but manages to catch himself. "Pardon me," he begins, but his eyes catch the piercing ones of the elderly fellow. "Something I can help you with?"

The man is silent for a moment more. Then he reaches up in fwaps Kaies in the face. "Show some manners." Then he turns and walks the way he'd came. "Follow me, and we'll see why you're really here."

Kaies blinks, twitches, but doesn't touch his cheek. Doesn't answer either. In his entire life he has never felt so frustrated in a situation... he could really smack someone, but this is not the time. He follows obediently.

"Have a seat, have a seat," the elderly man directs, holding out his arm for a small blue serpent to slither up. The "snake" is wearing a grey band with the same insignia on it that the mens' cloaks bear. "This is Gauwi. She is a psychic of high order. She will let us clarify your real purposes in being here."

Kaies chuckles softly. "Cloak and dagger motherfuckers aren't you? Pardon, but I thought I would say that before your psychic said it for me."

The man smiles brightly. "Yes. But we're trying to determine whether you are, too. Now sit."

"Oh, right." Kaies sits, smiling brightly. "Bring it on."

The old man nods, eyes still casually amused, and sets the serpent on Kaies's shoulder. It loops itself around his neck several times, and then lays its head near his pulse.

Kaies tenses a little. Some old fart just wrapped a snake around his neck. "So is cuddling part of the psychic process?"

"You have an aesthetically pleasing female wrapped around you," the elder notes as the snake works.

"And when I tell the story, that's exactly how I'm going to phrase it," Kaies answers. "How long should this take, Confucius?"

"Three more seconds."

The snake raises her head.

"Excuse me. Two." The old coot holds out his arm, and the serpent slithers back up to his shoulder. He nods a few times at interval. "I see. Yes. Hm. Oh? Will you clarify? I see."

He finally looks back over to Kaies. "Well. So you aren't a bounty hunter. That is reassuring, and will allow you at least a few more answers."

"Yes, I know my vast arsenal makes that tough to decide for oneself." Kaies sighs. "What sort of answers?"

"You came here looking for a miss Minna Adair, yes?" The man tilts her head. "She was drugged and brought unconscious to this place, examined, and eventually sent to the keep of an elder vampire. I have to imagine that you have questions atop those I just answered."

"Yeah. Three, actually. Who brought her here, why is she here, and how do I get her home?" Kaies's tone is quite even during all this.

The man sits down, sighing in a "holy damn that feels good" way. "She was brought here by one of our organization's members, who has watched over her for years now as a sort of covert protector." Ther is a bit of a pause. "Minna, Master Kaies, is a special sort of girl, one with a tremendous potential to be even more so. She is here because she is at a transitional stage in her life where she is highly likely to be killed, whether intentionally or otherwise. Many creatures will, how would you say... 'want a piece of her.' Even if she evades them, fate itself will have a bit of arsenic with her name on it. We are trying to give her the most protection that she can possibly get, and also put her in a situation where confusing questions can be answered."

"Special... how." Kaies tilts his head.

This man is the first one this trip who seems genuinely patient and willing to answer whatever questions may arise. "Regardless of faith, Master Kaies, several sorts of god and goddess, along with select other divine forms, boast irrefutable, proven existance. I know several. Your pink friend is one." He's referring to Hal, of course, who's disappeared for the time being. "They are ageless and very nearly immortal, and have a unique sort of power that is usually acclimated to an element or an aspect of an element. Are you with me thus far?"

"Today I was pounced by a cat monster, saw a dragon, was teleported, and attacked by a vampire. I think my mind is open to whatever you might have to tell me at this point."

"Splendid. I promise to test that claim." The man smiles, beard twitching along with it. "Ocasionally a human, perhaps six to fifteen a generation, is chosen by this or that deity for varying reasons to receive what we refer to, as shorthand for a complex process, an 'infusion' or 'divine infusion.' The human then essentially has three parents: her natural two, and the god or goddess who had chosen to impart his or her energy into the child-to-be. These Infused start their lives as mostly normal humans, save a special affinity to a certain element and perhaps a repulsion or weakness to an opposite one. However, when the human reaches a certain age, glimmers of power will begin to develop. If allowed to continue to its natural end, the infused human will eventually become divine herself. A full-fledged goddess, though usually a lesser one to start."

Kaies digests this slowly. Rather like French bread.

"So that light I could have sworn I saw around her was actually there, then?" It all kind of makes sense, now that he considers it. Her run-ins with fate. And Dan... who Kaies is still going to bitchslap when next they meet. "One more question. Can I see her, and speak to her?"

"Perhaps. That is out of my hands. There are many who would harm an Infused at this transitional stage of her life, you see, and many precautions are taken to protect them. The vampires that she has been sent to live with will most probably protect her fiercely--for their own purposes on top of moral reasons--and may or may not allow you to see her. I will give you a token indicating that we don't consider you a threat, however, you may not be permitted to see her in case you had been followed."

"Right... so if I can't, what am I supposed to do? Just forget about her?"

"I can arrange for you to receive updates on her condition from time to time, if you like."

Kaies rises from the chair. "I'm not sure I'd like to be reminded that I abandoned someone, thank you."

"Well. Do you have any suggestions?"

"None that would work."

"Well. Your vampire ally outside will most probably not be warmly welcomed at the keep that you will need to visit, as his kin are enemies of these. However, he can guide you to it."

"Not that I blame them." He sighs. "So are we done here? No offense, but I much prefer my mundane mortal life to running from place to place being told what I can't do." Which really isn't a lot different from his mortal life.

The man nods, and smiles. "You are a good man, to do all of this for your friend. You may run into questions about yourself, deja vu or odd occurences, as time wears on...you are certainly welcome here to find answers. I would be happy to do what I can."

"Just one more question, then." Kaies shoves his hands in his pockets. "Who are you?"

"My name is Gentan. This may come as a shock, but I'm an eccentric old man." He reaches under his cloak and holds out a steel ring. "Here. Show this, and mention my name, and you have a better chance than you otherwise would have to see Minna. Her element is rare, and has little practical purpose except as a true healing force that can aid the undead and similarly dark-based creatures. It's an impressive asset for a keep, and will become ineffective should she be rendered a vampire, herself, so she will be fiercely protected. Do not give them any reason to think that you my be a threat or may carry information to the wrong ears."

Kaies accepts the ring, slips it with some difficulty onto his littlest finger. "Tight. Alright. Thank you for your help Gentan. I hope, if we meet again, that the circumstances are better."

Gentan nods. "Here's hoping. I'm sure that your pink friend will pounce you as soon as you leave the room...she may or may not accompany you. Either way..." he stands up with an old-man groan. "I wish you well on your trip. She can transport you there."

"Alright." Kaies bows his head a little. "Thank you. I'll be this way then." And he turns, and heads off to meet his almost certain pouncing.

"Hi!" Hal pounces him, but in a "catch me hug me!" way.

Being ready for it, Kaies snags her cleanly with both arms. "Hi yourself! You seem to have had a fine time of it."

"Yup! They make goood food here." She purrs. "Find your friend?"

"Sort of. I have to travel to a vampire's keep. The old man said you or the other vampire might know." Kaies is really, really fighting the urge to pet her.

"But which...ooooo. Okay, I think know which keep he means. I'll tell Sari-whatsisname. Carry me?" Hal grins, and wiggles her nose.

Kaies grins a little. "Sure. You are not heavy." And he trots, Hal in hands, back towards the entrance of the place to speak with Sari-whatshisname.

Hal bounces about amusedly, but stays just still enough that she isn't dropped. "Yay! You're a good carrier. Well. Hopefully not too good a carrier. Don't breathe on me? Hiiii!"

The last bit comes as they approach Sesarius, who's sitting a ways away from the tower. He smiles grudingly at Hal. She is cute. "Hi. Did you get the information you wanted?"

"I got information, but not quite what I wanted." Kaies sets Hal down carefully. "Apparently she is being protected by Elder vampires."

"Oh?" Sesarius blinks. He hadn't heard about this. "I hadn't heard about anything applicable amongst my kin...." The question is clear.

"I think it's the place in the east mountains. Gentan's in good standing with some of 'em, and he likes 'em." Hal nods.

Sesarius sighs. "Fantastic." He's silent for several moments. "There's no way they'll let me anywhere near anything even semi-important. Or...probably, into the keep unharmed. I'll take you partway there, though." He nods slowly.

"Oh, I can transport you there!"

The vampire blinks. "Why...didn't you transport us here?"

Hal smiles. "I like walking!"

"I like crying. So I'm going to have a ball when I get home and get some of that Tequila." Kaies could smack Hal. But no. "So... take us there, Hal? I'm sure Sesarius here would love to come, but it probably isn't a good idea."

Sesarius nods. "Probably not...I wish you both the best. While I...walk...home." And he turns and heads off that way.

Hal bounces. "Okay! Let's go!" And, with only that warning, a swirl of pink light appears around she and Kaies and, yes, Sesarius, and they're bound for Connely Keep before the vampire has time to do more than "eep."