Yin finishes buttoning her cuffs and checks herself in the mirror. Her fashion mood has been variable lately, and, while the slim black slacks are functional, the shirt has an elegant, borderline lolita feel to it. A black cowboy hat, as usual, tops off the look.

She looks to the open bathroom door, though she can't see inside for the angle. She's actually a guest at Grace Tower at the moment, as she manages occasionally. She never stays in a certain silver/Golden wyvern's room--he's the general and leader of what's left of wyvern power structure, and clothing an already controversial relationship in "oh my god they're living together?" scandal just isn't going to help anything. ...But nothing's to say he can't visit her.

"Revilier, I'm going to go...'play baseball' with one of the local vampire slayers' guilds. Do you want anything while I'm out?"

Sitting on a chair against the wall, and looking very much like he needs a martini or twelve from all the work involved in restoring his regime, Revilier still can't help but feel flattered that she's thinking of him so nicely. "I need a sword," he chuckles, almost to himself. "A sabre or something. Something general-like. Could you find something?"

She grins at him sidelong as she finishes resettling her hair. "If you're serious, I'm sure there are some quality sellers in the city, or at least ones who can order something worthwhile in. I'll look into it. Anything else, besides copious amounts of alcohol?" Yin wanders over to him as she speaks.

"I am serious." He looks her over, appreciative as ever. "And no, just as long as you come back before I start to wilt without you."

"Aww." Yin smiles, and kisses his hair. "Barring complications, I should be back before sunrise." It's about nine a.m. right now. Vampire slayers are, as a general rule, nocturnal, and it's easy to throw them for a loop by showing up during human hours. "Take care, right? Don't let that treaty worry you, that thing is almost certainly sealed. They're just letting you stew."

"They always do." It amuses and comforts him that Yin's learned the nuances of political strategem so completely in their time together. She's almost queenly, in a number of ways, though he wouldn't tell her so. Still. Revilier rises from the chair to embrace her, smiling his varsity captain smile.

She warms inwardly--well, relatively so, given icyness--and returns the hug gladly. It's been a very long time since she's been in such a serious relationship and the first she's been in one with someone she really loves, and she often can't help the smile. Leans up and kisses him a few moments, before grudgingly loosening her hold. "Alright...I'll see you tomorrow, Revilier. Behave." Smirk-grins at him, and starts to turn for the door.

"Without you," he quietly admits, watching her leave, "I don't have a reason to be bad." Pauses. "I love you."

"I love you, too, Revilier." Smiles at him the genuine one he and precious few others get to see, and slips out the door. "Bye!"

The vampiress is really in a fantastic mood when she sets out the door. It's been a tough spot for everyone...the whole world has been turned upside down now that the humans know, and she's been dividing herself like crazy between Revilier, her family, dragon-human relations, and dragon-wyvern relations. Thankfully, the last of those has improved markedly since the Pakistan fiasco, since it's become more of an "us against them" situation. It also helps that wyverns are markedly less threatening than ever before, and therefore okay to make nice with.

In any case, it's a good thing if you happen to be dating one.

She hums Vivaldi's "Winter" beneath her breath as she passes the various security checkpoints on her way out--legitimately this time--and hits the street. This will be a fun day. She's between dragon assignments, and playing with vampire slayers is all sport. The opportunity to shop around and pick the perfect sword for someone special is an added perk.

Once outside, hat pulled down against sun, she's forced to stop and buy a single stem from a streetside flower vendor when she spots some frost lilies in the mix.

Her phone rings, the caller ID displaying the words "Kitty Kitty Bang Bang" in marching ants.

She smirks at the screen, smiles close-lipped at the vendor and pays for the flower, and answers as she walks off. "Blackjack pizza, would you like to hear our specials?"

"Nah, I'd like to eat them," Menayen answers, sharp as a q-tip. "Hi there Yin. Guess who I found when I was looking at internet videos?"

Her cheeks color faintly. "Dick Cheney?"

"Yes."

She has to smirk a touch. "Well, I'm very happy for you. So what else is up?"

"I found Alou!"

The change in her expression is instant, and dramatic. She's looked for him idly...of course she has. But that even Kaz hasn't been able to find him...when that spider wants to disappear, he disappears. "No way...that's fantastic! Where? Is he okay?"

"He's a girl!"

Blinks. "Oh...Christ." She can't help but snicker. It's not like it's irreversible, with Mercy around. "Wow. Seems like a lot of trouble just to get away from strictly local Okarthel authorities. Think it was us he didn't want to find...her?"

"Well. I've been following a paper trail, trying to see where he's been, but from what I can tell he just appeared at the farm one day. It was Mercy who told me about it. She said he was just there one day, down in the lab, looking like he hadn't eaten in a week and with lots of kicked ass syndrome. He begged her for help, and well, you know Mercy. She's a giver."

Menayen pauses. On the other end, he's wiggling in his chair, thinking about what to do next. "And you know, she was only too happy to chop off his junk."

Yin's face wastes little time in arriving at full seriousness. She hadn't expected him to be hitting such...complications. She hates to think of her friends in painful times. "That was good of her, considering her feelings about him." She's quiet a few moments. "Do you know where he is now?"

"Sure. He's in a little town in Alaska. I'll send you the coordinates, but I don't know if he wants to be found."

"Thanks. And...yeah. I'm not sure what to do now." Considers. "It's not like I can just head up there myself. I have some human amateurs--I mean, spies--who try to follow me off and on, as a dragon emissary." Fiddles with her flower. "They aren't around right now, but I can't risk leading anyone to him. But there's got to be something that can be done."

"Well..." Menayen ponders this, wiggling and dancing and thinking in his chair. "I've got a portal thingy that could take you there. It's a little bit unstable, though. Hee... I'm watching him on Froogle Earth. She. Alou. Picking flowers!"

Smirk returns, just a little. "Aww. How cute. I have a lily with me, we can tuck it in his hair. Sounds good...I'd love a chance just to talk to him, and it's not like I haven't travelled via Kaz-portals before. Does return-trips too, I assume?"

"Of course! Once it teleports you, it'll lock onto you. That way you can come back no matter where it happens to send you. He's a very pretty girl. He's got a very sad face."

"We can do our best to fix that. He doesn't really need his allies right now, but I'm sure he can use his friends. I'm free now, I was just going to pick on some of those emo vampire slayers today. Where do you want me to meet you?"

"Oh, I don't know. How about that hot dog vendor on the corner of Bloom and Main? I've been itching for some horse, or rhinoceros."

"Kitty," she smirks at the feline. "Mmkay. You free now, or...what time?"

"Give me an hour, baby. I have to get the portable portal thingy ready, and we can just leave from there. Plus, it'll be funny to mess with your spy friends."

Snickers. "Point. I adore screwing with their heads. Alright, I'll see you there. Anything else?"

"Nah." Menayen grins, though of course, telephone smile conveyance is limited. "I'll see you then." And the phone clicks off.

Yin closes her own. Considers. So she's going to see Alou. That's...heh. Beautiful, yes. She considers, and then sets course for a somewhat upscale mall. Alou could use a nice, warm, stylish sweater that's not too girly, and she's just the fashionista for the job.

Some forty-five minutes later, a big box under her arm, she plucks her phone from her purse again, and dials Revilier.

It's a moment. Several rings, but Yin ought to know from the beep at the beginning that it's going to voicemail.

"I'm in a meeting right now. If it's urgent, call the office red line. Otherwise leave me a message."

Beep.

It's okay. She'd expected it. He's a busy, busy man. "Hi, Revilier. I just wanted to let you know that I got a call from a certain fuzzy-assed friend of ours about Alou. It's nothing dangerous, but I may be just a little longer than intended. My phone may also be fuzzy to unavailable. So don't worry...it's not that I let a bunch of stake-weilding drama queens get the better of me. Good luck with the ambassadors today, and I'll see you soon!"

One click later, she wanders to the side of the street to flag down a taxi.

And of course, being Yin, she secures a taxi as well as a near-collision. The driver, who is almost certainly working without a license, is dancing in his seat to 'It's raining men'.

"Where to, honey?"

Gaydar much? She has to grin. Well, that's unusual. She doesn't know that she's ever been picked up by a non-extra-straight cabbie before, as she settles her box and self in the back seat. "Bloom and Main, please."

"You got it. Hey." As they pull out, he glances in the mirror, smiling amusedly. "You're Yin, aint'cha baby?"

She raises an eyebrow slightly despite a slight, amused smile. Knowing her name is strikingly unusual. "Yes, that's right."

"I gotta tell the girls about this. You know, meetin' you, I wanted to do it ever since I saw you in that prison video." It does occur to him that this, in most contexts, would be very, very dirty. "You got so much game, girl," he's also got a distinct French accent, "you're inspiring."

It's a short ride to the intersection of Main street and Bloom, made all the shorter by the thinness of traffic at this time of day. Menayen, who is sitting on a drum happily munching a rhino dog, waves excitedly to the cab when he sees who's in it.

Yin has been chatting just fine with her delightfully flaming cabbie, though thoroughly unused to the attention. Waves at Menayen, and pays for fare, with a generous tip. "Thanks again, Juan," she notes, smiling. "Have fun with that manicure session tonight." And she steps out of the cab.

"Thanks! See you somewhere, honey!" And Juan, thrilled, speeds off to his next fare.

Menayen chews his food thoughtfully, gazing after the cabbie. Looks at Yin, still chewing. Closed mouth, very polite, but his eyes are just burning with the need to say something.

Yin, box in hand, tilts her head. She just stands, eyes amused. "Menayen. Get it out, or you're going to pop."

Chew, chew, swallow. Finally! 

"You're cheating on Revilier with a queer cab driver and a box!"

Aaand there's Kaz. "And a purse," she purrs, smirking. "I like foursomes."

"Me too," Menayen nods happily. "I like me, some whiskey, a ball of yarn, and a hill."

"A hill?" she bites as she leans against a light post.

"Well, what else am I supposed to roll down?"

"A window," she smirks. Q-tip indeed. "So, have your generator-thing?"

"Ayup." Menayen holds up a device that favors a pirate ship model, and beams. "It's disguised!"

Yin grins. "I wondered why you hadn't gone all-out. You're missing an eyepatch." Holds up her own box. "I got Alou a sweater. It felt weird shopping in the ladies' department for him."

"No kidding. He wasn't the manliest man ever, but manlier than Cabbie Queen back there." Ears flick. "So. Wanna go straight there?"

The vampiress nods. "Absolutely."

"Kay Kay. Let's walk into this alley here." Menayen hops off the drum and trots between two buildings, waving at the Spider vendor. He flicks the hull of the little ship open, revealing a display, some keys, and a small, eye like reticule. This he aims towards the wall and, a few scant key clicks later, produces a wavering, glowy hole to somewhere much colder.

Yin smiles, stepping up to peer at the thing. "Awesome. Are you coming?"

"Um, you know, I'd probably better stay here to man this thingy," Kaz answers. "In case it sends you to the wrong place, I'll be able to call you back. Also, it can't transport more than two people at a time. If Alou wants to come back, ya know."

Yin's expression softens a little. She nods. "I'll tell him you said hi, Daisy." Smiles. "See you soon, Kaz." And she steps through.

The place Yin ends up is cold-- not enough that even Alaskans point it out, though. She stands before a simple cabin where a young woman in a simple black dress sits upon a fence, picking flowers and arranging them idly in a basket. Her hair hangs in masses of pale blonde with black at the tips, and though her miserable expression is hardly characteristic of him, enough facial structure remains that Yin should be able to recognize this ultra-feminine Alou.

Whatever amusement she may have gleaned from his appearance is lost at the expression. Still, Yin approaches quietly, not trying to mask her footsteps, and forces herself to put on a smile. "Excuse me, Miss. Can I interest you in a new sweater today?"

"No, thank you," she replies in a lilting tone that is not without politeness and warmth. When she look up from her basket, she very nearly falls off of the fence. She stares for a second, but closes her eyes and regains her composure before speaking again.

"I haven't seen you around," comes the classic small talk line.

"I haven't been around." Yin sets the box against a post, and hops up onto the face herself, facing the other way. "But a certain mutual friend pointed me your way. I thought you might need a hug and a friendly face."

"Mutual friend? What are you talking about?" Despite the pretense, the words come slowly, hampered by feelings Alou has beaten down over the months.

"He misses you. We've been worried." Yin leans over and picks up the white department store box, and holds it out. "I got you something. But I didn't know what name to write on the little card, Miss Alou."

She can't hold her eyes to Yin's. The little basket of flowers tumbles from the fence, spilling and scattering in the cool earth below.

"That isn't my name anymore. How did you find me?"

The dragoon balances the box on a fence post, and wraps her arms casually around her knees. She doesn't look at her friend, however much she wants to. Not if it makes him uncomfortable. "Mercy told Menayen. Menayen told me. He said you were very sad. That was enough to get my attention."

"I don't need pity," she snaps, but her features instantly soften into contrition. "I'm sorry. Things haven't gone that well for me since I left Okarthel. As you can tell." He holds up a hand, a delicate, dainty hand. "At least I'm pretty. And choosing a new name was pretty easy."

"Oh? What have you got?"

"Alouette."

Yin snickers. "Wow. You know what? I bet I can remember that one." She smirks. "I've missed your sense of humour, Alouette dear. Because I'm a sucker for punishment, but that's splitting hairs."

"Yin. Why are you here?" Alouette's eyes lift again. "If it was to ask me if I spent my first night squishing my breasts, go ahead. But if it's something serious, I don't know if I want to hear it."

"It's serious. I'm here to see for myself that you're okay." Yin looks over to him. "There no official business, with anyone. I don't do that kind of thing anymore, after the prison video. I'm here because I'm worried about one of my best friends."

"I'm trying to build a new life, Yin. I was going to tell you. I just couldn't face you." Alouette slips off the fence and kneels, gathering the flowers, stalling. "Every letter I ever sent to Troix was returned unopened. Every phone call I made ended with her deigning not to talk to me. Every time I thought about you with Revilier, I wanted to scream. And every time I met a human, he tried to kick my ass." Pauses. Her finger oozes red from a thorn wound, made in negligence. "I thought a new set of hormones might change things for me."

Yin closes her eyes a few moments. Heart just breaks for him...to see what's become of him. But that's not what he wants to hear, and she doesn't say it. "Is it working?"

"Kind of." Alouette rises, flowers neatly arranged in the basket. Her movements are still the same cautious, aquiline swayings of a spy-der, but if Alou is uncomfortable in Alouette's body it doesn't really show. The fact that she isn't wearing a bra does show, however.

"I look human. Merciful rerouted some of my systems, and now my spinneret opens here." She holds up her left hand, and pulls back her stylish, fingerless arm warmer-glove to reveal a smallish hole in her palm, which is just slightly thicker than the other to accommodate. "No one has tried to hurt me, but I've been hit on more times than I care to remember."

Yin manages a smirk. "Behold the power of mammaries. Speaking of which, dear...oh, how to phrase this...you're too well endowed to not reign in your horses. Especially when it's cold, pointy."

Alouette blinks. Looks down. "God dammit," she mutters, crossing her arms over her chest. "I couldn't get the stupid bra on. I gave up."

Yin chuckles. "Some of the clasps are tricky. We have dozens of sinister designs. I'll help you figure out the ones you have."

"I don't know if that's a good idea, Yin." Alouette sits again, still bundling her breasts to hide them. "I thought the hormones would change something. But sure enough, I'm a lesbian."

"I figured you were. I'm not, and I'm not the one who needs the shirt off, and you've been shirtless around me dozens of times anyway. If nothing else, I can show you how they work without putting them on you."

She can be so very blunt when she wants to be. Alouette's expression gives away her emotion much more readily than did Alou's.

"If you think it would help, then," she nods. "Do you want to come inside?"

"Sure." Yin smiles a bit, takes her box, and slips off the fence, careful to not catch her purse. "Great choice in climate, by the way. Remind me to call you next time I'm hunting for nice real estate."

Alouette doesn't answer that. She keys open the door - careful as ever - and steps into what is actually a rustic cabin.

Obviously owned by someone beneath the poverty line.

"Make yourself comfortable," she instructs Yin, walking past a ratty gray couch and old endtable. "I don't have a computer or television, so there isn't much to do in here."

"No complaints here. Computers remind me that some nerd, somewhere, is probably looking at my naked body, and the television is far too repetitive lately. 'Humans aren't alone! Oh my god in heaven!" Arms are thrown upward for dramatic effect. Then, perfectly sedate, she seats herself primly on the sofa.

"People here display some of the worst racism I've ever seen," Alouette nods. "I like it here, though." Voice trails away. "How is Troix?"

"She's doing well. She's living with me...not all the way upstairs, like when you were both there, but in the guest room beside mine. It's fixed up like an adult-sized verion of a little girl's room. She helped me pick everything out. There are whales involved." Yin crosses her legs. "I've tried to get her as close to back to normalcy as possible, so that she can start to deal with things at her own pace. I enrolled her into adult classes...pulled her out after a week, though. She was bored, both because of the pace--by far the smartest person in the class, of course--and because, well...she's not an adult, and not designed for that setting. I homeschool her instead, and she volunteers at an orphanage to hang out with other kids. The kids and adults both love her...can't seem to figure out how she connects with the kids so easily and so well." Grins a bit. "She fell into that role really well, I think it's truly working out. She's actually on a camping trip with them this week at a kids' retreat. I let her go, but gave her plenty of homework."

Alouette listens intently to this, eyes ever affixed to the floor. She fights tears successfully, even if the old resentment for Yin is coming back in spades.

"She never asks about me, does she...?"

Yin shakes her head a little, sombering. "Occasionally, but not often. I think she misses you, but that misplaced anger is still there so that she won't admit it. She's in trauma counselling. It doesn't work fast, but...I do think she's at least beginning to realize that what happened isn't your fault. I'm confident that she'll want to see you again. I just don't know when. I promise you'll be the first to know as soon as she might."

"I don't know that I want to come back into her life anymore," Alouette softly admits. "She sounds like she's doing fine."

Yin closes her eyes a few moments. "That's a decision the two of you will have to make, I think," she amits. Doesn't want to. "I really do think she misses you. And it goes without saying that you miss her, but...well. That's not up to me, and it's too early to decide anyway." Breathes out slowly. "So, bras?"

"Oh." Her eyes close. "I can't. Not right now, Yin." There's just a hint of frustration behind her new voice, which flows like cream and milk.

Yin gazes at the wall a few moments. A joyful reunion had been too much to hope for, but..well, she had hoped. "Fair enough. Some other time." She nods a bit. Another pause. "So...you're safe up here, Alouette, you think?" Looks back at her, genuinely worried.

"I do. No one knows who I am except for Mercy, and now you and Kaz." Alouette manages a smile, and a genuine one, with bright eyes but closed lips. "I sell flowers for a living. I know it's cliche, but I actually own a shop. In fact, I usually sleep there."

"It sounds lovely. The spy thing...gets old. You can only do it so long, before nothing sounds better than a quiet, normal life. Oh, hey..." she'd tucked the frost lily she's purchased earlier into a pocket of her purse. Retrieves it, and holds it out. Smiles a bit. "For your collection. I got it from a flower seller this morning, lovely people they are."

Alouette gazes at the flower. Takes it in. The smile remains, though it does mute a touch as she takes the lily and tucks it expertly into her hair over her left ear.

"How does it look...?"

Yin smiles a bit. "Lovely. You really do make a pretty girl."

Her cheeks take on a deep blush at Yin's words. "Thank you. I had trouble accepting compliments like that at first."

She grins a bit. "It's okay. Blushes are endearing. Settling into it okay now...?"

"It's getting easier. I miss some aspects of being a man, though." She chuckles. "I'll bet you can guess what those are."

Yin has to grin. "I'm sure. But hey...there have to be some attractive lesbians hanging around somewhere up here." She feigns shock, hand over her heart. "Or are there? Don't tell me the internet lied to me about them hiding behind every third tree."

Alouette grins at her. "There aren't that many people here," she answers smartly, "but it's every fourth. The men up here have small dicks and it's cold."

Yin finally laughs, for the first time since getting here. "Crime of necessity, then," she smirks.

"Right. But I haven't found anyone for myself yet. Like I said, they're racist up here-- and that includes homosexuals." Alouette glances out the window, staring at a sun that's only now coming up. "What do we do, now that you know where I am?"

"Honestly, I don't know." Yin glances to the window, and gazes at the beginnings of a sunrise. Huh. "If you wanted to come back...you'd be more than welcome, of course. We all miss you, even if Kaz would have to get in the obligatory boob-squishing jokes. For the record, it would be funny watching him decide whether he's obligated to his on you or not." Almost smirks. Fails.

"I won't push you too, though, if you don't want to. I really do understand just wanting a clean slate. If nothing else, I can pop in and visit every now and again. If that was okay with you, of course." She's not part of "clean slate."

"Yin, I don't know. I'm still in love with you." 

Eyes close again. Oh, shit.

Her eyes close for a few moments, then open again. It's not like she didn't know, really. "It's okay. It's not like I didn't know. I do wish I'd known sooner, before I got involved with Revilier. It's just...with my relationship with Arux, it's very, very easy, very practiced, for me to be dearly fond of someone, to love them platonically, and end up oblivious to other affection." She leans on the back of the couch, gazing over at him, eyes quiet. "I'd never have taken advantage of you on teh rebound from Tuleau. So you ended up in that category, not because of anything you've ever done wrong. Just for the record."

"I don't regret anything. I've always known that it was first and foremost the situation that kept getting between us. For the longest time I didn't feel that way about you." Alouette sits back in her chair, crossing her legs. Her dress comes up a little and... sure enough, she's a little furry. "I know it's not good for anyone involved to feel like that. So. You don't have to worry about it."

She nods. Whatever else they may have made, she and Alou are fantastic partners. They're both very blunt and very pragmatic. They understand things the same way. "I still wouldn't be at all uncomfortable around you. What you want to do just depends on how you feel about things. And it's not like you have to decide right now, convenience aside, or that you couldn't change your mind later...I'm sure you can get ahold of me or Kaz if you need to. I'll play however you like."

"Answer me this." Alouette looks up. "How do you suppose Kaz would react to seeing me this way?"

Yin smirks a little. "The phrase 'rubbing himself' comes to mind. I think he'll have a short adjustment period, trying to figure out whether he should treat you like a man or a woman, but will be fine otherwise. He's an amazingly open-minded little prick. I'd expect occasional obligatory teasing, though that would stop if you asked it to."

"Alright." Alouette stands up, hair tumbling over her face until she tosses it back. "Let's go back. Introduce me to Embriel, maybe. And for god's sake, teach me how to shave my legs." Smiles. "That's how I get them to stop hitting on me."

Yin's face brightens notably. Aww...he had missed them! She hadn't expected him to agree to come back. Still, she smiles her famous smirk-grin after a few moments. "Whatever you say, fuzzy. Really, spiders don't tend to have very sensitive skin, so there may be an easier way...anyway. We'll go over that later." Flips open her phone, and pokes number six on her speed dial. Kaz.

"Jesus Christ's office."

Yin rolls her eyes, amused. That's a new one. "If you're hoping for a list of my sins...keep dreaming, dear."

"I just wanna be on the list. Is everything okay? She fell outside a minute ago." Of course Menayen's watching. Who knows how Alou might have reacted to Yin? He can't hear, or see inside the house, though.

"Oh, yeah. A certainly lovely lady with me has agreed to come on back home. We're just that loveable."

"Really? Wow... okay. Um... do you want me to teleport you now, then?"

"Let me ask." Looks over to Alou...ette. "I forgot to ask. When do you want to go? Are there any affairs you want to put in order here?"

"I can leave now, right? And then we can come back in a few days or something, to get my flowers." She beams. God, she's such a girl.

This is exactly what Yin is thinking, and she has to snicker. "Historically, this is when I call you a woman. You're not supposed to pre-empt me by making it true. And yeah, I'm sure it will work." Grins, and raises her phone again. "Yeah, now's good."

"Okay. Don't freak if you're in the wrong place at first. It's locked on so I can teleport you any time, and eventually you'll end up back here." Menayen pauses. "I've never had it take more than three teleports to get home, and that's a lot of tests. Now, grab onto her. Preferably her butt."

Yin raises an eyebrow. "That's only semi-comforting, Kaz." Still, she picks up her box and tosses it to Alouette, before walking around the couch. "Put this on so to humor me and mostly so we don't have to carry it?" Grins a bit. "Teleport stuff, Fuzzybutt here says to grab onto one another, preferably in a place that will amuse him."

"Hey, I warned you before you left," Menayen's voice protests.

Alou opens the box. His reaction is a mixture of male 'oh it's a shirt' and female 'oh my god, this is so thoughtful and goes with my shoes' stereotypes, leading mostly to silence and a warm expression. Immediately he tugs the dark blouse he's wearing away, not really caring if Yin's looking this time, and pulls the new sweater on, pleased as punch.

Yin smirks. "Yeah, yeah. It's obligatory to pick on you, Kaz, I have faith in you. Takes Alou's arm. "We're good to go whenever you are."

Alou just smiles at Yin. Okay. This will work. He's just about to comment on the sweater when a field of greenish sparks illuminates the both of them, transporting them instantly. Menayen rolls his eyes on the other end. He's not sure where Grimoire is, but that's where they are.

---

Yin poofs into sight in the ladies room of a closed tavern. Menayen, looking like he's had another rough day or ten in a row, looks at her, smiling just barely. 

"There she is," he purrs, "hi."

Yin's eyes widen as soon as she gets her bearings. Holy...hell no. Hell no. "Is Alou here?"

"I don't know. I don't think so." The furrball looks at her, eyes bloodshot. "Where did you go?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you. I don't believe me." She covers her eyes with her fingers, trying to get herself together. Just...she doesn't even know. "Met the pied piper and was just talking to I think Saint Patrick. Took directions from the Cheshire cat whose real name is Comedy and his psychotic sister Tragedy, fought each the big bad wolf who was a werewolf and an axe-weilding, fire breathing giant living puppet thing and needed to get alou out of some enchanted chair by going to talk to Captain Hook, probably through the city of Oz, which a badassed Little Red Riding Hood marked the way to for me, and...I need to sit down."

"Do that. Me too." Menayen hops onto the sink, sitting, ears drooping. He's tired.

"It wasn't my fault," he whispers.

"I didn't think it was. You're damned good or I would have suggested a fucking airplane." She's very profane at the moment, yes. Smiles just the slightest bit, wryly, as she sinks onto a toilet, ice armor mostly cracking away, though parts stay to relieve serious burns that she's suddenly feeling again, now that circumstances are normal. Cringes at them, and lays her head on a little ice that crystallizes over her hand. "You look like you've been at it for hours. But your saying it makes me wonder. What happened?"

Menayen's shaking his head as she assures him of his talents. "No, Yin. Yin. Someone stole my device from me, right after we talked. A pretty pretty thing, and she had a model guy with her. I chased them, but they dropped the remote after a while. Then I pushed the button, and you went where you went. Then I had to figure out where it was."

"Where was that, exactly? I was expecting to wake up in a hospital bed at any time with you and Revilier nearby to tell me I'd been drugged, and the whole thing was a hallucination or fever dream." Cringes. "Alou's stuck in some kind of stasis thing. And speaking of hospitals, I'd love something to that effect right now."

"Can you walk?" Menayen's features lose a touch of their exhaustion, but it's plain that he's not with her as much as he could be. "I dunno where you were, but I've got the coordinates to get back, now."

"Good." Yin manages to smile a bit. Fades. "For what it's worth, I don't think Alou's in immediate danger of the situation worsening." She reluctantly gets her head up, ready to get up when she musters the will. "And yeah, should be able to. The jackhole with the axe just threw oil on me and set me on fire."

Heh. Yeah. Actually, it occurs to her about now that when the last of adrenaline and numbness from her ice wears off, she's not going to be in a very happy place. Or very mobile. Her arms and legs are still covered as far as her limited bandages and gauze had been able to go.

That considered, she gets carefully to her feet again while she still can, though wincing, before her skin tightens. "On second thought, hospital's way too high profile. Also, burn wards suck ass. If I could get back to the Tower, that would be great. Revilier's spell should also help restore my energy a little so that we can go back after Alou as soon as we both grab a few hours' much needed rest."

"Okay. We can do that." Menayen hops down from the sink thingy and toddles off. The machine in his hand beeps. "Ooh." He smacks it. "Found 'er! Lookit!"

Yin blinks as she walks along after him. "Found...Alou? Ette?"

"Yup!" He holds up the device, which displays only a set of blinking lights in rapid succession. "I don't know, though. Should I bring her back?"

"I'm not sure." Yin bites her lip. "Let me explain better. She's kind of...stuck, magically, to this throne thing, and completely immobile. I think the only reason she's aware is because I used the Golden spell on her. What do you think? Worth a shot?"

"We can try." Menayen nods. Pushes the button, and amidst a flash of green Alouette appears between them -- throne and all.

As does Tinkerbell.

"Holy shit! What just happened?" the faerie squeaks.

"Oh, hell. This just gets better and better." Still, Yin has to smirk quietly. "Still...having the throne out of Tragedy's house isn't a bad thing. One less problem. Also: Kaz, Tinkerbell. Tinkerbell, Kaz."

"Hiya soup," Kaz purrs at Tink.

"Hiya, pussy," Tink grumbles. "How the hell are we supposed to get her out of this chair now?"

"I suppose I go back and ask Captain Hook. Er...Kaz, are you able to send him back to his own world okay?"

"Sure, if I don't swat him first," Menayen purrs. He looks at Alouette, head tilting either way. "She looks so scared."

Yin's face fades a bit. "Well, remember I mentioned a giant axe wielding puppet who set me on fire? That's who did this to her, so...she wasn't really in a good spot when this happened." Touches Alouette's hair gently. "It's okay. We can also ask Gabriel, if he's around...I haven't heard of or from him lately."

"Oh, didn't you hear?" Menayen perks somewhat. "He vanished. Up and gone one day. He left a note about coming back someday to see about the domes, and just... went."

Yin blinks. "Well, damn. There goes my 'knows everything' person to ask about the orange gem thing that sank into my hand." Scritches her hair. "Well, my legs are really starting to hurt. How do we move this heavy-ass throne, and also, do we send Tinkerbell back now?"

"Damned if I know, and sure." Menayen looks at the device. 

A knock comes at the door.

"Hell," Yin murmurs. Sighs. Smiles, and walks over to the door, holding it shut. "Oh, is that the maintenence people finally?" she calls.

"No," a man's voice calls from the other side, sprinkled with ginger and cinnamon. "Just art lovers."

Yin cringes. Looks back to Kaz. "Okay. So, uh...new theory. Alouette's not out of their reach."

"No, no," Tink shakes his head. "That's not them. That's a demon."

"Well, today just gets better and better, doesn't it?" Yin gestures to the second stall with her head. Doesn't know if Alouette can fit through the escape tunnel she'd run from Prata into or not.

Menayen sighs, and pulls out a pair of bifocals from his suit. Put them on, and stares at the door. "Yin," he purrs, "that's the man who blew that sparkly dust on you at Havoc's place."

Eyebrow goes up. Okay. Well. That she's interested in. Also, she'll take that for a "no, we can't really go anywhere with Alou." A demon? That's who'd affected her with something? Great. "And how can we help an art lover this evening?" She finally sighs.

Menayen glances at Yin with his bifocals. "Yowza. Show him those panties, for one." Looks at Alouette. "Holy shit!"

"Give us Alouette," the voice calls, ignoring Menayen.

Yin mock-glares at the kitty-thing. "And why would I do that? I tend to frown on the kidnapping of my friends, you understand."

"She has a destiny. She's going to help us remake this existence." 

"Please," a woman's voice purrs next to the door, "please give her to us. You'll be so happy with what happens."

"Yeah, you know, unless that involves 'getting her out of the creepy throne and letting her live her life as she sees fit,' I'm kind of doubting that. Now what's this about remaking existance?" Yin's leaning back against the door. Of course she is. But realistically...as drained as she is, she has about the strength of an average to weak vampire right now. Nothing resembling the dragon-infused prowessshe can normally boast. She has no illusions about whether she's going to be able to hold this against demons.

Keep them talking. Think of something. Let Kaz think of something. Something.

"She will be free. But she must come with us, back to Grimoire. We," the woman's voice oozes sugar, "will show her a path she's never thought possible. A path of pleasures physical," a pause, a heavy breath, "and spiritual."

"I could never agree to something like that for her, and I couldn't be sure to ask her right now whether her mind isn't being altered by creatures who specialize in that sort of thing."

"She must go back to Grimoire," the male answers, "to be freed from the chair. She was to stay there and wait for us. Free will blinds when there is an overabundance."

"We can get her back there on our own terms, but thank you kindly." Yin shakes herself awake. Damnit.

"That will work," the female, whose voice sounds oddly strained by now, answers. "Just so long as you do."

Tinkerbell flutters around Alouette. "We're in trouble if we don't," he growls. "Comedy's dad is out there, too."

Yin raises an eyebrow. "Who's Comedy's dad?"

"I don't know his name," Tink grumbles. "He's a devil or something. He has eyes that look like when you squint real tight looking right at the sun."

"Ah. Demon who can kick our asses demon. Check. So, all that said, are you two quite done here?" she inquires of the two through the door.

"Well, if you really will take her back, yes," the woman purrs, lilting every syllable.

"Bye bye, then."

"... unless," the male chuckles, "you want another taste of my magic. How was it, anyway?"

Yin glares a little at the opposite wall. Heavenly, actually, it made alone time with Revilier even more fantastic than before, but she's not about to admit that. "Bye bye, now."

"Bye!" The woman's voice actually sounds pleased at the encounter, and her soft, nonsensical singing can be heard fading as the demons walk away.

"Well," Menayen blinks, "that was a singularly fucked up encounter. She sounded hot though. And she looked good. I think I wanna follow her."

"Are you up to that?" Yin looks over to him.

"Not really," the kitty shakes his head. "But I feel the need to go, for some reason. Rilly bad."

Yin nods slowly. Considers. "I don't think it would be helpful me to follow," she finally admits, most grudgingly. "My skin will probably start tightening up badly from the burns in not very long, and then I'll be dead weight, far more dangerous than I am helpful. Is there someone you can get for backup, Mr. 'I have spies in places you didn't know there were places'?"

Menayen covers his eyes. "Rillly bad." He reaches for the doorknob, eyes sparkling. "Pretty pretty..."

Tinkerbell flits over to him. "Hey! What are you on about?"

Yin narrows her eyes, and sets her hand against the door, holding it closed, setting the other against his shoulder. "Menayen. Snap out of it. If you try to follow her, I will bite you, and drain you so dry you won't stand for three days."

"Maybe you should," he purrs, "you need the strength, and... I need to follow her." He turns the knob. Pulls.

Yin growls. She wasn't bluffing, not when it beats the alternative. Her caution takes his fighting ability into account, and she tries to jerk the little runt from the ground, pin him to the door, and sink her fags in to stun.

It works. Menayen's too exhausted to fight back, and unlike mind-control victims is in control of most of his faculties. His eyes smile while his lips cringe, and he passes out, the little teleporter device dropping to the floor.

"Holy shit," Tinkerbell says to Alouette, "that was hot."

Yin extremely reluctantly looses herself from his neck after a few moments. The amount of blood actually had been a bluff, though she does need it. Subduing him is all she needed to do. Catches her breath for a moment, trying to come down from the beginnings of hunting instinct, and then eases the kitty gently to the ground.

Closes her eyes a moment. "Alright. So, Tinkerbell, I don't know how to work his teleporter and dont' want to risk doing it wrong, so you seem to be stuck here until he wakes up. Sorry about that. In the meantime, I'm going to see about getting all of us to a safer location."

She lifts what's an amazingly longevous cell phone to her ear after dialing the head of her security detail at the Tower. Not 'hers' so much as 'foreign dignitaries,' but he's always assigned to her when she's around since she likes the guy and has a rapport with him. He's actually the front door guard she'd had so much trouble with on her first infiltration. He'd been a Golden, one of those left to hold down the fort at the Tower, and once she'd discovered him and turned him back, she'd immediately recommended him for a promotion. Revilier had moved him to the "High Guard," the wyvern equivalent of the American Secret Service.

"Petrovic," comes the answer over the cell phone, the deep grain of the much better compensated door guard. Tinkerbell sits on Alou's shoulder, looking at her.

"Hi, it's Yin." The tired dragoon settles Menayen's hair out of his face as she speaks. "Could you arrange transportation for two people and cargo about," glances, "three and a half feet square, five feet tall, and three hundred pounds, from the 'Drink and be Happy' motel on Sixth back to the Tower?"

"Of course. Discrete, or obvious?" He's not a man of many words, as it turns out.

"Speed's a higher priority, but discreet if it's equally convenient." That's okay. She rather likes not piling on the bullshit it's become her job to deal with.

"Understood. Expect a pickup out front in fifteen minutes. Is anyone wounded?" Petrovic knows that Yin rarely asks for help, and so, must ask.

"Nothing urgent. No medical support's needed. Thanks, Petrovic."

And the line clicks off. 

"Good news, I hope," Tinkerbell chirps. "How long do you suppose we'll have before the demons come back?"

"Yeah." Yin smiles a bit at Tinkerbell and Alouette. "Hopefully not in the next fifteen minutes. That's when our ride will be here." Ponders. "Of course, there's the trick of getting you out of the bathroom, Alouette dear. The door is only so wide."

Alouette's lips move. Tinkerbell leans in, listening hard; the spider's voice sounds so softly that the faerie can only just hear it.

"She wants to know if you're calling her fat," Tink chuckles. "In the chest, sure."

Yin smirks at the spider. "Well, the cupcakes go straight to your throne area."

Alou tries to smile. Her lips just twitch a bit.

"This is buttcheeks," Tink notes. "And we'll never get her through that door."

"If worst comes to worst, we can cut it open. I'll wait until our escorts get here, though. At this point, I'm not opposed to just letting them deal with it." Is quiet. Ho-hum. So. Fifteen minutes. Glances down to Menayen. "So. How much do you suppose he would have paid for a video of that bite?"

"Dunno. What passes for money here? I've been around, ya know, but I've never been here." Tink snags a strand of Alouette's hair, plays with it. "Good God, she must use tubs of conditioner."

Yin smirks a bit, before grinning at Alou. "Oh, yeah. She's a hot chick if I ever saw one." She sits down against the door. Feels way better than she'd care to admit...except the part involving bending her legs. Increasingly painful.

"She's not a chick, though, right?"

The vampiress opens her eyes again. "You're pretty sharp for a grasshopper."

"I'm a faerie, cockstain."

"Well, that was pretty obvious from the start, fruity."

"In any case, fuck you. Seriously, I mean that.  Besides, your friend has a man's energy signature. And big titties."

"Energy signature?"

"You know. That sorcerous code that every one has. Like a magical genome." Tink shrugs. "I hate that term, though."

"Ahh..." Yin nods a bit. "Check, then." Nothing she understands or will have use for, though good to know that magical creatures may know Alouette's gender...for whatever it's worth. Leans back. Hopes the wyverns get here soon.

---

About forty minutes later, impressively short considering that a wall had to be cut to accomodate Alou, Yin breathes out as they reach her little suite, keeping tears sparkling only in her eyes. As predicted, her burns are very quickly worsening, but she'd refused help for appearances' sake, to prevent too much talk from circulating. She's still a spy and, at least a few minutes ago downstairs, could fake a healthy enough walk.

Of course, Alou's humbling. She's not the one glued to a chair. One of them will be fixed soon.

Yin leans against a wall, eyes closed a moment, and then looks to her escort. "Petrovich, could you get word to General Omeaux that I'd like to see him? Please make no mention of my condition. It isn't urgent enough to call him away from something important or to worry him. I can tell that you're testing me for shock, and you're right," ice on burns. Brilliant, "but it's highly unlikely to become dangerous to my undead physiology."

"Yes, well. Have this. I'll go do that." Petrovic sets a pouch on a table - it looks like a capri sun pouch - for her, one of a few he keeps most of the time these days. "And I've already notified him, per his request when I got the job."

She smirks a bit, something like amused. Mostly at the fact that she's been a spy for so long she considers the almost-underhandedness fairly romantic. "Eh, I tried. Wouldn't get between you and your orders." Fingers the pouch. Ah...just what she needs. "Thank you. I think I'm just going to lie down for awhile. Where have my friends been quartered?"

"They'll be taken to the tower for security purposes. We couldn't get the woman out of that chair, and damaging the chair didn't work either."

Yin nods a little. She knows she can't win this battle. Even if she asked Revilier about it, well...that would put him in a bad spot and ultimately go nowhere. They're not just random friends, they're Kaz and Alou. He wouldn't have anything to do with them at all if they weren't her friends.

"A guard on them would be recommendable, though I know it's probably you've already had it set in place. Some of the casters could be consulted on the chair, but I'm not sure that would be cleared. I'll ask the General later. Is there anything you needed from me?"

"Only a statement after you rest. If I have a reason to guard your friends, I should know what that reason is so our security guards don't blunder into b-grade action movie deaths." Petrovic rests his heavy frame against the door. Arms fold.

Yin nods. Priority stuff, higher than bed. "Well, part of it is standard security. Although nothing of the sort has gone down since the Coup, the long-eared one is historically good at frustating wyvern operations when he so chose. Guarding and watching them will keep everyone's noses clean." She remains standing straight where she is. "We were approached by...well, the bug thing called them demons, in the bar back there...a pair, possibly a trio, who are interested in the girl in the chair. I'm fairly confident that they were talked down for at least...oh, a day or two. But it merits caution." Smiles a tired, quirky sort of smile. "So, big guns. If the others are moved to another base in light of the information, I'd move that I retain the right to approach them."

"There are no guns bigger than mine," Petrovic, a dedicated shotgun surgeon, smirks right back. "They will be protected. I know a specialist who knows something about demonology, so I'll give him a call. Meanwhile, get some rest." 

"I'll do that. Thanks for your help, Petrovich. Careful, right?" This as she takes the packet of blood and turns stiffly to head into the bedroom.

"Of course. And it's Petrovic. Pet-tro-vick." And he heads off as well, to see about getting things put together.

Ah. Right. Childhood friend named Petrovich, she get messed up sometimes. Yin lies down, and closes her eyes. Ugh. She feels like she's been up for days. She opens the packet and tries to take a drink...lips finally curl into a wince after a few moments of this, and she has to stop. Can't bend her arm that much and hold it there, it hurts too badly. Maybe if she were starving as opposed to merely hungry.

As it is, she just lies flat, closes her eyes, and tries to rest, though sleep is out of the question.

Or, so she thinks. Tiredness from burning off so much power in a day goes a long way, and her burns do occasionally frost over a touch, courtesy of a certain dragon guardian. At some point she can't identify, the dragoon drifts fitfully off.

---

Revilier watches her sleep, some hours later. His phone buzzes almost incessantly in his pocket, but he couldn't care less-- he'd come as soon as Petrovic called, and set the thing to vibrate. His hand, lying on her wrist, faintly glows golden. And he waits, worrying and fussing to himself.

After a few moments of this, her cheeks twitch, followed shortly by eyes fluttering open just a touch. Long enough to see who it is and warm, and then fall shut again. She had just woken up, after all. A smile and generally more peaceful expression does flow across her face. "I didn't manage to go saber shopping to day," she notes softly after a few moments, one corner of her smile twitching a touch further. "Maybe this weekend."

"That's okay. We can do that together next time. So..." his grip slides down her arm, finding her hand. "Who do I kill for this?"

"Beat you to it." Squeezes his hand gently and smiles again, trying to reassure. "It was...weird. I don't know where to begin explaining, but...the spell is wonderful. But I really just need a hug."

Long. Day.

"Of course." The wyvern once-again general scoops Yin into his arms, holding her, spell ablaze. "As long as you like. Just tell me what you need."

Yin's smile broadens when his arms wrap around her...eyes fall shut after a few moments. The smile fades and she just clings to him, head tucked against the edge of his neck. Just...clings.

"This has been the most bizarre day of my life," she finally observes softly. "I'm a vampire dragon spy ambassador dating a wyvern and I think it's bizarre. I thought the entire time that it was just some kind of drug trip, that I was in a cell or hospital somewhere. But I was suddenly back and...the burns were still there."

His hold tightens enough to support her, so that she doesn't have to hold herself up if she does'nt want to.

"It's over now, whatever it was," Revilier assures her. "Can you tell me what happened?"

She tries to smile a bit. It isn't altogether impossible...this is right where she's wanted to be for quite some time. Just what--and who--she'd needed. Nods a little. Looks up to him. "Just...keep in mind that no matter how insane you think I am, it's probably not much more than I think I am?"

"I thought you were insane when you decided I was good enough for you, so no worries."

A chuckle has to break from her throat at that. Aww. She turns her head to kiss his jaw lightly, before settling back in just as she had been. Proceeds to explain bit by bit...the teleporter--no worries, he'd already known about that, after all--Alou being Alouette, the two people taking it, ending up in Grimoire. The town, the anachronism, the Big Bad Wolf and Red, Rosencrantz and Alouette, the Jabberwock. The cat, the house, the creepy gallery, the crazy-ass giant puppet who set her on fire and the orange stone that settled into her hands. Comedy and Tragedy, and suddenly coming back. The demons, the throne.

She finally breathes out. "And this has been my argument for lithium."

Revilier listens to her account, never speaking up, never asking 'what the hell' as he's inclined to. Just holds her, his spell flowing into her, his arms comforting around her.

"I think you need a vacation, Yin. We can go back to my cabin, if you want. But you need some time away from everything."

She closes her eyes. Of course, it's the only logical conclusion. Even she thinks she's nuts. The dragoon remains right where she is. She needs his touch in any case. Is quiet at first.

"Maybe," she finally observes, softly. Her voice lacks its usual surety. "I spent all day thinking what you're implying. But...I haven't been under that much duress, certainly less than I'm used to. Just being with you...the last few months, I think are more content than I can ever remember being. I don't know why I would have had a break like that." Opens her eyes, gazes up at him, questioning. "If you can invalidate the story...you're welcome to check me into whatever mental health facility you want. But Alou's still in the chair, and still a woman. Those demons are probably on the security camera. And I'm still covered in second and third degree burns."

Pause. Manges a small smile. "Well...was. Thanks, Revilier."

His hold tightens. "Yin. You smell like smoke." And he just holds her, hoping that, knowing that, she'll believe he believes in her.

She closes her eyes...breathes out, and just stays where she is, leaning on the wyvern. "Well, it's his fault. If he'd been decent enough to leave some condiments laying around, I could have smelled like barbeque instead."

"Tell you what." The wyvern pulls back enough to look into her eyes. "Let's get you cleaned up. A bath, a change of clothes, and then we'll start sorting this out together."

Yin nods a little. Pause. "Have I told you today that I love you?"

Revilier nods right back. "Tell me." First his eyes, and then his lips, smile.

She finally smiles, just a little. His looks are a big part of why she's so attracted to him, but they're not why she loves him. It's so easy to remember right now, when the weird and disturbing is threatening and he's just calm and reassuring, gentle and in control at the same time.

"I love you." Sofly. Nods. Brushes his hair aside gently. "I do, Revilier."

"And I, you. So." He tilts his head a little, to settle his cheek against her hand. "Let's clean up my dirty dragoon, eh?"

She finally smirks a little. "You wouldn't want to," she manages to half-purr. Starts to chuckle, though doesn't fully manage, brushes his cheek with her thumb, and gets her legs off the side of the bed, checking herself carefully for diziness and such. She's okay, as it turns out. Revilier works wonders. Stands.

When Yin stands, she should be able to see another man standing just in the corner of the room, naked from the waist up, eyes closed as thought asleep. An apparent Arab by the look of him, with shocks of hair standing every which way in a pattern that is ordered and anarchic.

And she does. Stiffens. Nudges the wyvern.

Revilier looks at her. "What?" Looks around. "Did I say something wrong?"

Her brow creases a touch. Eyes remain on the other guy. Finally, confused as hell, glances to Revilier. "You don't see him?"

"See who?" The general's hand lowers to his waist, to the .45 pistol at his belt. Watches her eyes.

She can tell what he's trying to accomplish, and glances back to the wall.

He follows her eyes. Doesn't turn around, but whips the pistol out and fires into the corner, three sharp bursts.

The Arab vanishes, as though between blinks.

"Did I get him?"

Yin blinks. Eyes dart. What just...? After about fifteen seconds' alertness, she finally closes her eyes. "I don't think so. I don't know. Maybe I am losing my mind."

Safety, holster, in that order. Then Revilier hugs Yin tightly to his chest with one arm. "You said demons, right? If they are such things, they might be screwing with you."

This as the Arab appears again, by the door, quick as a wink. His eyes are open this time, and flicker like snow on a broken television connection.

Yin had let herself lean against the wyvern, clinging to the arm, eyes closed. She's not losing her mind, is she? Eyes open a touch, snap wider, then narrow, fixed on this...thing again. Is quiet a few moments as she gazes from over the top of Revilier's arm. The eyes...like when you squint, staring at a bright light?

"You," she finally observes quietly, just the slightest touch under hissing, "you're Comedy and Tragedy's dad, aren't you? What do you want?"

Revilier reaches for the gun again. Stays his hand, and waits.

The Arab blinks, just gazing at her. Far from fearful, he's quite beautiful - with the exception of the flicker in his eyes - and makes no aggressive gestures. 

"To let you see what I want to give your friend, Alouette. I have led her down a long path to the throne." His voice rumbles just suitably for a charmer.

Yin withholds her protests for the moment. "You make it sound like more than just the literal throne she's stuck in."

"It is much more than that." The demon holds up a hand full of powder- the same as before. Breathes in, gazing at her.

Yin stiffens, stance a touch more defensive even with Revilier's arm still wrapped around her. She's worried about herself, and even more about him. She knows the effects a little of that stuff had had, if it's what she thinks it is, but that doesn't necessarily predict what effect that much would have.

Or if it's even the same stuff. Powder's obviously a favored tactic.

The demon blows, spraying a mist of the stuff into the air.

Her hand snaps up, and a spray of powdery, frozen ice-mist is the response. The particles are small enough that they begin to melt almost immediately...hopefully to stick to the powder particles and fall with them.

It works, for the most part. A few dusty speckles make it to revilier, who'd started to move as soon as Yin did, as though to pull her out of the way.

This works...she's still not at full strength, and the general's stronger than she is to start. She thinks she'd gotten most or all of it. Quickly gets herself together after being scooped aside again, looking back to the demon. "What was that, and what are you trying to accomplish, anyway?"

By now Revilier's annoyed, and the weapon is out again, aimed at the spot Yin speaks toward.

"What I accomplished." The demon smiles out of the corner of his lips. "Goodbye."

Fangs bare a little. "What are you talking about?" she demands. "What was that about 'more than a throne?"

But he's gone, vanishing again between blinks.

Revilier keeps the gun up. "Yin, did something happen? I feel a little strange." Like the contact between his arm and her shoulders feels amplified - enough that he can feel single threads in her shirt.

She'd started to snarl...this simply dies halfway, though, attention snapping to Revilier. That...sounds familiar. Very familiar. "Maybe. Strange how?" She lays a hand on his chest, eyes deeply concerned.

He blinks. Moves back, staring at her. "Like... I could feel your palm print through my shirt." And if felt fantastic.

She nods slowly. Oh yeah. Same stuff. "Revilier...remember, the first few months after you got back, how I was unusually sensitive to touch? Like, almost comically so, though it was really nice at times?"

He nods. "Gave me delusions of grandeur a few times a week, actually."

She grins a little, though still concerned...and despite a slight blush. "Right, that one. Well...I think this may be the same stuff. I'm pretty sure, actually." Glances down to the floor. "Can you see the powder settled down there, too?"

"Sure. So why would someone ostensibly threatening give us a gift?" Revilier kicks at the puddle.

"I haven't figured them out yet." Blinks. Cringes. "But it's Alouette he's after, and if he can move around in here so well, there's no way in hell she's safe, we have to check on her immediately. And we should probably get some kind of decontamination crew in here; there's no telling what this much could do." She can feel it affecting her a bit, too...doesn't think as much as Revilier, but definitely affecting. Blushes a touch at the thought of what that could mean to the next couple of weeks, if things settle down and there's time.

This fades almost immediately. God, selfish bitch. Alou's in danger now. Sidestepping the powder, and trying to work through tiredness, she starts for the door.

Revilier doesn't follow. He's mostly just looking at his hands.

Yin pauses at the door. Of course, Alou isn't the only one who may need help. Also, she doesn't have the security clearance to quickly get to Alou. "Revilier. Are you okay?" she inquires gently.

"Fine," he assures her, "just wondering at feeling the air brushing over my skin." And he follows along, eyes open for demons and fictional cats.

Back at the safehouse sector where Alouette and Menayen have been taken, the kitty is awake and pacing in front of a still catatonic Alouette. Petrovic's security crawls around the area.

Yin stays closer to Revilier, though she doesnt' touch him...remembering her first night with the stuff. Freaky as hell, even if it had objectively been a nice evening. She lets out her breath when she sees Kaz and Alouette. "Oh, good. You're okay." Very big relief.

Menayen's ears prick straight out. "Aside from having a sore neck," he pouts. "What happened? And where did that hotness go?"

"The demons didn't come back while we were there, so I don't know. We got transportation back to the tower and you and Alou were secured over here for general security reasons. I proceeded to pass out on my bed for awhile, and Revilier healed me." Glances to the wyvern. Smiles just a little, and back to the kitty. "I saw a demon again. The voice was different than the two we've heard; I think it was Comedy and Tragedy's father. Revilier couldn't see it, though, even though he was in the same room, so either I'm absolutely out of my mind or he can choose who sees him."

"Couldn't see it?" At this, Menayen turns his attention back to Alouette. "He's been... she's been acting odd since we got here. Mmphing like she's terrified every so often, and whimpering sometimes. Always looking in the same direction."

Revilier looks at Alouette. "Wow. He makes quite a woman."

Yin's brow creases a little. She walks over to Alou, setting her hands on his shoulders gently. Glances around. "Where's he looking?"

"Over by the corner. See her eyes?" Menayen points, unnecessarily. Sure enough, Alouette is looking at the corner of the room, staring at a Lenocinant that she wants to touch so badly it makes her fingers ache. She can't figure out why - knowing that Alou had no interest in men - but there he is.

Yin stiffens a little when she glances that way. She hadn't been able to see him before, but once something's said..."yeah. That'd be the same guy we just...I just, saw elsewhere."

"Scary. What's he doing?" Menayen asks, looking around. Why the winger can't see this bitch?"

Lenocinant, ignoring Menayen and smirking at Yin, approaches Alouette.

Yin steps around Alou to put herself between the two of them. "We're not going to let you have Alouette until we know much more about what the hell is going on." It's not that she doesn't find Lenocinant insanely attractive...of course he is. But there's nothing like living in a town where a disproportionate number of males are hot--or dating someone who looks like Revilier, who in her biased opinion is the prettiest thing to ever walk--to help desentisize you to this.

"You can't really stop me. Besides, you already agreed to return her to Grimoire." Lenocinant takes hold of a veil from nothing, pulls it into sight, and drapes it over his shoulders. "I just want to make sure she knows what awaits her."

"I will, but I made no agreement as to when. So. What does await her?"

Lenocinant takes another step. Two. He passes through Yin as if she weren't even there, and lays his hands on Alouette's shoulders. She sucks in a breath, eyes misty.

"Pleasure," the demon answers. Eyes fixed upon Alouette, who breathes a little faster.

Yin narrows her eyes. That was weird, tingly, and...almost enjoyable. Damnit but she doesn't like this guy. Turns quickly, pauses just an instant, and tries to push his hands away, although there's no telling whether she can touch him.

Her hands pass through him. Lenocinant lowers his hands, sliding them down Alouette's neck to her chest, cradling her breasts. Her eyes try to close, and she gasps a little.

"Pleasure, Yin. Consequence free pleasure," the demon intones.

The frustrated dragoon, though she doesn't fully miss that he knows her name, is nearly trembling with frustration about now. "No consequences of leaving the whole world she's from? I'm thinking not." Pause. If he can touch Alou...after a few moments' thought, a sharp pyre of ice springs up from beneath Lenocinant. Not meant to injure--though it certainly would if he were solid--but nothing puts a damper on a man's sex drive like a blast of ice.

The demon continues as though nothing has happened.

"Yin!" Menayen shrinks back. "What are you doing? And what is that glitter floating around her?"

"I haven't the faintest...what is that stuff?"

"Powder," Lenocinant laughs, his hand sliding down Alouette's torso. An attentive Yin might see his fingers vanish into her now and again, as the he's not really touching her, either.

Powder and...psychosomatic? Maybe?

What if the demon isn't even really here, himself? He's a demon. Not a ghost.

It's like a light goes on at the same time her eyes narrow. Right then. A burst of the same mist as earlier tries to clear the powder.

Crystallized drop clatter to the floor, just as Alouette's voice tries to cry out, stifled pleasure burning her from tip to tip. It sounds right enough that Yin ought to know what the cry was about.'

Lenocinant vanishes.

Yin breathes out...fingers finding closed eyes, trying to bring her pulse down. Sets a hand on the spider's shoulder. "Sorry, Alou."

"... m..."

Menayen eases close. Listens with his big kitty ears.

"She says 'more'."

Ugh. She just...doesn't know how to deal with this. It isn't a clean-cut situation. Nods slowly. "Um...yeah. If you can see the powder, it's causing sexual stimulation. And some kind of manifestation of the demon was pushing it along, although I don't think he was physically here, persay."

Just...what the fuck.

"Really? I want some." Menayen peeks at the crystals. "You could make a load crystallizing this stuff and selling it as jewelry. The clit ring that keeps on giving."

Yin smirks a bit, though it fades. "He keeps saying things about how he's 'led her on a long path to the throne' or 'he wants her to see what's awaiting her back in Grimoire', which he notes as 'pleasure without consequences.' So...I don't know what he could be after. Or what to do."

"Well, he seemed etherial, right? Maybe he can't actually do anything to her here?" Menayen ponders this. "Maybe he exists in Grimoire? We could go there and fuggemup!"

"Or get fuggedup," Yin notes. "Though it beats just sitting here. Is the teleporter thing still in good shape after being dropped earlier?"

"Yeah. I fixed it. You fucking bit me." Menayen holds up the little model ship. "Thanks!"

Yin smirks a little. "It was my pleasure. Besides, Tinkerbell over there contends it ws hot."

"I'll bet," Revilier puts in, eyes settled on Alouette. Considering her.

"So do we go now?" Menayen pokes the ship. "I don't think this has enough juice for all of us, and I have to stay here to bring you guys back."

Yin considers this quietly. "Well. Tinkerbell needs to go bck to go home. We may need to get Alouette back to get her out of the chair. Is there any possibility of communication between Grimoire and here, Kaz?"

"Now that I know where you are, sure. I'll send a care kit just in front of you, and it'll have some tools for you." Menayen pokes the ship again. "I don't think you're in any danger if you do what they say. But that's not you, I know."

"Nah, I'm difficult that way." She glances to Revilier. "You look thoughtful."

His eyes flicker a little bit with a silver sparkle. "I'm just trying to wrap my mind around this. Not the demons, but this." He nods to Alouette. "He wasn't all that handsome a man, but look at him now. How deep does this go?"

Menayen's ears prick up. "She says 'bend over and I'll show you.'"

Yin smirks sidelong at Alou...but, ouch. She's still female and it rather hurts to hear her boyfriend staring at another woman so long and then saying this, even if it's objectively true...not to mention wondering about her particulars. "Yeah. She really does look good." Breathes out. Looks to Kaz. "I exhausted my power last time and it's still not fully recovered. It was mostly because I was severely underequipped. If I'm going back there, I need a few minutes to throw some things together." Glances down. "And change clothes."

"Take your time. I guess mister Demon-guy is gonna keep trying moronic scare tactics, so just ignore him. Meanwhile," Menayen methodically wads up a piece of paper. Flings it squarely against Revilier's cheek.

"What the hell was that?" Revilier demands, glaring at him.

"Dumbass 101: never compliment another girl in the presence of your girl." Menayen smirks. "Dumbass."

He gets a small, subtly grateful sidelong smirk for the effort. "Alright. I'll get cleaned up and see you soon, then. One more question, Kaz...do you have to send us all at the same time, or do you have enough power to send the fairy and I and then Alou later?"

"I can send you both. That throne will take some effort, but it'll be later." Menayen sticks out his tongue at Revilier. "So go get changed and I'll start throwing together Kaz's signature goody bag for you."

Yin nods. Needs to shake off mental and physical tiredness a bit, herself. "Alright, see you soon, then." Smiles at the crew, making a point to not ignore Alou even though he's silent, and glances to Revilier, wondering if there's anythign else he wanted to say or ask...or, if he's leaving with her or has something else to do.


He's glaring at Menayen, who is busy poking the ship.

He can feel her before she appears. Trilene snaps into sight with a whoosh, claps her sunbrowned arms around Revilier's waist, and beams cattily into his eyes.

"Hiya handsome...!"

And in a whuff, they vanish.

Menayen looks up. "Who was handsome? Dumbass?"

Yin, for her part...is stunned. Approximate .7 seconds later, she freaks. "What the hell just happened? Who was that, and where the hell...?!"

"Who was who?" Menayen looks around. "Did I miss something? And where's the butterfly?"

"Some woman just appeared from nowhere, grabbed Revilier, and then they both vanished!"

"Really? Kickass...! I mean, damn! She must be one of the demons, screwing with us." Menayen taps keys. "I'll find him. Go get changed and equipped. Hurry up!"

Yin nods a second before she's out the door. Not running except where she can get away with it to keep from causing some kind of meltdown. Just...damnit. Damnit, damnit, damnit!

There's no bath, no outfit primping. She jumps quickly into fatigues--blue ones, similar to Revilier's--boots, and a tank top. She doesn't bother with a jacket; too heavy and too little chance she'll need it. A fair number of useful items--first aid, a few emergency rations for a human or wyvern, a couple of knives, first aid supplies, and several flasks of blood, among others--are thrown into a napsack, along with all of her draconic currency...and two pistols, one standard size and the other for concealment. A quick side trip to one hidden cache of weapons she just happens to know about--Revilier had showed it to her in case of emergency--provides a disassembled rifle.

Also, half an armory of ammunition and hair ties.

Her heart is doing its best to leap to her throat as she hurries back to Kaz...but icy military disposition is trying equally hard to stifle it. If she wants Revilier back...if she loves him...she needs to be functional right now.

Menayen is sitting on the arm of Alouette's throne when Yin returns, nodding to himself.

"Damned ghosts. Every time I almost get a pellet. Hi! I found him, he's where you were when you left Grimoire. Also, I'm ready to send you back."

"Great. The place I'm likely to be in the deepest shit and where Alou will be most in danger. Will we be bringing him the first time through, or no?" Sets a concerned hand on the spider's shoulder.

"Can't," Menayen nods. "Not enough juice. It'll be at least an hour."

"Perfect. Would have begged you not to, anyway. If the communication goes up all right, I'll keep you posted. Shall we do this? And where's the skirted grasshopper?"

"I haven't seen the little fucker in a bit. Seriously." Menayen shrugs. "I don't know. Maybe he was with the demon?"

"Great. Won't rule it out; he was in the house of doom, back there. He's got some fancy little magic tricks at his disposal. He could be really damned damaging loose in the tower." She checks through her supplies once more, mental inventory.

"Well, I didn't see him vanish. But I was kinda preoccupied. So are you ready to go?"

"The last I saw, some saucy hell bitch had her arms wrapped around my boyfriend." The dragoon forces a small smirk. "What do you think?"

"Jealousy?"

"More like violent tendencies, but sure." Really, of course, she's almost entirely worried. "Shall we?"

"Course. Be careful."

And Menayen pushes the fateful button, sending yin back to the snake room at Hamartia.