Julen City positively buzzes with activity, the heart of a "small" megalopolis and overflowing with millions of people's lives and businesses. It's full of businessmen and lawyers and taxi drivers...and also has its share of misfits. The residents' many idiosyncrasies make it an ideal place for individuals who are genuinely different to blend in and give no indication that they're part of this modern world's second, magical, and largely unheard heartbeat.

---

Julen Archive
Julen Archive II
Julen Archive III
Julen Archive IV
Julen Archive V
Julen Archive VI
Julen Archive VII
Julen Archive VIII
Julen Archive IX

---

Yin nods a bit in response to the lead contractor's explanations, looking over the new construction and listening to his plans and projections. Honestly, her eyes are shining, glancing out over the city. Sixty-eight floors into the air...it's been a long time since she's seen Julen City from this angle. It's ahead of schedule at that...not finished, or even all that close, but close enough to tantalize. The security and reinforcement in these few levels is taking the most time of any stage of the project so far, but coming together beautiful. Even as security-minded as it is, she has to give it a stamp of approval.

Plus, since that oddity in the Garden and certainly since the state wedding, she's genuinely starting to see some respect from people. It's rather nice. "It's looking gorgeous," she admits, glancing over framework with a discerning eye. "How far over budget are you projecting, exactly?"

"Pretty far. Some of the satellite defense weapons tacked on fifty million uros, and we got them cheap 'cause Soze's people built them. We pretty much just paid for parts and labor." The contractor, Donie, a very polite Irish fellow Petrovic recommended, peers over the edge of the building. "Your husband doesn't have the stomach for high steel. Shook like a cub when I brought him up here."

Yin nods slowly. "We may be able to work with it, but please get some definite numbers to my secretary by the end of the day tomorrow, along with detailed accounting reports. And I'll be sure to tease Revilier to the proper extent, rest assured." She grins a bit.

"Ma'am, your office has every digit of every number involved in the project. Rest assured, every Euro is accounted for." Donie bites back a bit of annoyance. "You can't build an impregnable fortress that doubles as a tower and the seat of government for a penny."

"No, and we don't expect to. It wasn't an accusation. However, with so many levels and hands in the project, we enjoy staying informed. As I said, please have some reasonably hard estimates of the project's closing costs to me by the end of tomorrow, that we can see about distributing funds appropriately." Yin looks down the side of the building.

Heh. She remembers falling out of the side. That had been fun. At least she'd had webby help.

"Alright. Is there anything else?" Donie looks at Yin, but only briefly. He's itching to get back to work.

"No, I think we've covered it all. I know you're a busy man. Thank you for taking some time to take me into the loop." She turns back to him, smiles, and heads back towards the elevator once his step joins hers. Not that he's the only busy person between them.

Nope, but no one likes it when the boss visits and asks for what you're already doing.

Yin's phone rings; the wrist-o-phone she'd received in Eden. It displays a large picture of a certain long-eared kitty nutjob face-deep in chocolate pudding.

Yin blinks...has to fish the wrist thingie out, she hasn't used it since then. "I can show myself out in a bit, need to take this, she notes softly. Picks up the wrist phone once the elevator door closes. "You...hm. You appear to be having way, way too much fun than is legally acceptable, Kaz."

"There was a stripper in that cake," the little bastard purrs. "I found something you might be interested in."

"Purple leperchauns that appear without four gallons of bourbon?"

"A science guy. Well, kind of an occultist. Kind of a sci-cultist. Anyway. Married a vampire. Hotness. Just had a kid."

Yin stiffens. "You have my attention on more levels than I care to readily admit," she notes finally. Kaz knows about her recent pregnancy, of course, they're slowly beginning to talk properly again. Not that it surprised anyone, including her, when it went nowhere, but it was a dandy slap in the face.

"The guy's name is Nathan Weatherby. Lives in Belfast, in Northern Ireland. I worked with him on some of Sin's biochemical systems.  Problem is, he's just been abducted. That's how I found out about his wife."

"Of course," Yin groans. "Any leads, or things I can help with?"

"You'll love it. Apparently, a bunch of vampires did it. No ransom, apparently. Word is they're trying to figure out how he fathered a fangy kid."

"Oh?" That's kind of on a good track, anyway. She currently has a major foothold with quite a few of the major clans now, as the most politically powerful vampiress in the world and, in such, its foremost enabler of vampire human relations. "Makes sense. He's probably not in danger, anyway. Which clan?"

"Don't know. They're in Siberia now."

"Hmm...cool. Thank you. So much info do you have on this whole thing?"

"Not much yet. It just happened. Sin went to look into it. Do you want us to retrieve Nathan and bring him to you?" Menayen smiles brightly on his side of the line. He does love snatch and grab.

Yin smiles a bit. "Mm. If it can be confirmed absolutely that he's being held against his will, then I would love that. I'd be happy to toss some of ours your way, as well as fund the operation."

"Yeah, I could use a few. We don't keep a stocked mammal military here, just robots, purely for defense, except for Sin." Menayen pauses. "Make 'em hot!"

Yin grins. "Burly males it is. Where shall I deploy them?"

"Send 'em here. No need getting Julen involved in official Irish business."

"But of course. Business aside, how have you been lately, sweetie? I know you were feeling a bit sketchy for awhile." Alien physiology and all...Kaz is darned good at curing himself, but darned good at getting sick.

"Not bad. It only hurts when I poke myself with a stick. Sin's an excellent care giver, it turns out. What about you? Did your blond bitch every get over that filth he caught in the jungle?" Dysentery. Not fun.

"Ugh..." Yin wrinkles her nose at the memory. She is not the best of care givers, in her opinion, since although she certainly acts like one, her thoughts the entire time are eeweeweewPoorBabyeeweew... "Yes. He's still on a little bit of treatment, but it's mostly precautionary, and I have a whole new respect for being undead."

"Good, good. Well. Send your people, or person, or whatever, and I'll hook them up with gear and what not. I'll have intel by the time they arrive."

"Cool, will do. Thanks for the heads-up, Kaz, you get a hug for this one next time I see you."

"Always, baby. See ya cheeks."

"Bye bye."

Yin realizes after ending the call that she'd forgotten to ask about the chocolate pudding. Oh, well. She'll worry about it next time she sees him. The next number she calls belongs to the commander of the primary intelligence unit for high military operations. "Hello Hinan," she greets as she hits the elevator button. "Do you have a few minutes, five or so, to meet me in my office today?"

"I always have time for you, my lady," Hinan answers. He does. He isn't a kissass by any means, but to say that he has gone to extravagant lengths to provide an example of tolerance to his inferiors is an understatement. "When?"

"I'll be back at the complex in about twenty minutes, and meetings that cannot be moved from 1130 to 1145, and 1520 to 1610. Outside of those strictures, at your earliest convenience."

"I'll meet you in twenty minutes, then."

"Alright. Thank you, I'll see you then." She hangs up, and breathes out. Meets her security detail--a pair of wyverns under Petrovic's direct command--downstairs, and, seventeen minutes later, heads down the hall towards her office.

Hinan is already there, sitting quietly in his dress uniform; a man of appearances to the end. He rises when she arrives, and waits to be let inside.

"My lady," he greets her, head bowed a bit.

She bows hers just a little, too. "Commander. Thank you for coming so promptly." She unlocks her door via fingerprint and code, and heads inside. "I won't take too much of your time. Coffee?"

"No, thank you." Hinan enters, ever cautious of touching things. He doesn't like it when people touch stuff in his office, and does not do it to others. "What brought my name to your lips, ma'am?"

Yin waits until the door is closed before answering. Heads over to her computer and logs herself in--it stays turned on during the day, crossing one ankle behind the other as she stands. She can't quite bring herself to plant herself at the desk for the day just yet. "A call from one of my contacts immediately before I contacted you. Apparently, there's a scientists slash occultist who's managed, through his research, to have a child with his vampiric wife. As you certainly know, my inability to produce heirs is very much a sore spot with the nation, enough that it's been directly cited as the primary concern of at least two different protest organizations. Thus, I'm very interested in this fellow."

Her phone beeps. An image on it shows a package of film opening up, telling her she has a photo text (http://s214.photobucket.com/albums/cc93/duskwaker/Marchosias%20Rasputin/) from Menayen.

"Yes, I can see why," Hinan notes, talking about her interests in this. "What does this have to do with the military division?"

"He's been abducted. Causes are purely speculative, though no ransom has been posted." Yin glances at the phone. Pauses. "One moment, this is relevant." She dials Menayen back. "Hey. So what's the link with the photo?"

"That's the guy leading the kidnapping. Marchosias Rasputin, real name Marcus Finlay, 33 years old, 6'1'', about 200 lbs, ex-interpol agent, number 55 on their most wanted list for kidnapping, extortion, assassination, arson, mayhem, and assorted acts of terrorism including poisoning a United States senator with..." rustling papers, "laxatives. Apparently he wanted to prove a senator could be poisoned. Wanted in South Africa for crimes against the state, most notably the bombing of two mills suspected of being heroin bases and the execution style murder of twenty-two individuals suspected of the same. He's been busy."

"Mm. With a rap sheet like that, he sounds suspiciously like a zealot of some sort. Is he linked to a known cause or agenda?"

"One second. Um... a couple. He doesn't seem to have found his calling quickly, although, the stuff that went down in South Africa apparently happened after Interpol walked away from intel indicating a drug war about to start in favor of chasing one of the buyers, an international dealer based in Mexico. Reports are sketchy, duh, but the uber classified ones I waltzed in a happily took in my pajamas just now say he vanished after a series of arguments with HQ, along with about forty pounds of semtex. I guess he lost his eyebrows in one of those bombings. After that... mm. He was seen in a few different places, religious communes. Hell, I've got a picture of him talking to the Dalai Lama, and he was reportedly seen in the Vatican not long after that, though whether he was there to kiss the Pope's ring, I dunno."

Yin nods once, unnecessarily. "Awesome, thanks Kaz." This as the first two pages she's called up print, and she begins to tap into the high security files Revilier's allowed her unusual access to. Mostly because it saves time. It's hard to keep her from finding out something she's looking for, may as well streamline the process. "I'm in conference on this matter at the moment...is there anything else before I let you go?"

"Nope. Buzz off, hotness."

"Cool. Talk to you later, thanks again." Yin hangs up, and looks back to Hinan, before back to the files she's quickly keying her way through. "Sorry about that, but it was productive, anyway. And more in your unit's league than I'd originally thought. The fellow behind the kidnappings is an ex Interpol agent and on their most wanted list, as it turns out, one 'Marchosias Rasputin'."

Hinan considers that. "I know of him, but he's not really a person of interest here. You have to remember, ma'am, that much unlike your special forces unit in Okarthel, we are not world police. "In fact, I would highly advise against our nation having anything to do with this man, short of worldwide outcry or an act of terrorism here."

Yin nods once, as another page prints. She seats herself, crossing her legs. It's a valid point, and major difference between Julen and Okarthel operations...dragons are dispersed virtually all over, so everything is Okarthel's concern. But the more social wyverns are more confined to a few hubs, primarily Julen.

"It's a valid concern. Anything that happens here will not be a Julen operation, but an Irish one. An opportunity for placement as a foreign agent has been offered, though. One or two of our own supplying eyes and our own interests into the operation would be helpful, particularly in seeing that this occultist fellow isn't killed or sequestered by another country. It would be recommendable for the operative to be masquerading as human and not giving indication of ties to Julen." She clips the papers together, and holds them out to him. Rasputin's file, information on both of the two vampire clans in Siberia, a newspaper article on the scientist's disappearance, where to find Kaz's rendevous point. Basic stuff, but a reasonable overview.

"Knowing who it is, none of our other intelligence units can really be trusted with this. However, I do trust your judgement. If you would prefer to keep your people out of it, I have enough contacts lingering here and there that I should be able to call in a favor to find another appropriate operative." It's very common for her to throw her weight and assert dominance with a simple "because I'm your queen and I said so" authority. Hinan, however, has earned his way around such. When he has a concern, it's legitimate.

Still, he knows she'll probably just do it anyway. One way or another; Yin is not someone who has a proven capacity for "yes, I suppose you're right, we'll just go with your opinion" which annoys him to no end.

"It's Irish business. And Julen should not care about a kidnapped occultist from another country. You understand that no matter the national ramifications of this, you are suggesting we stick our nation's collective nose into Irish business for your personal gain." He smirks. " On the other hand. MY wife is barren. So... I know someone who might work. She needs to get out of the city for a while anyway. You know her, I think; Ariella Chevalier."

Yin's expression darkens just a touch at this. Her voice, right after, is quiet and calm. "'No matter the national ramifications' and 'for my personal gain' are incompatible sentiments, Commander," she observes. Expression fades back to something perfectly relaxed. "As I've noted, third party enlistment to separate Julen entirely is an option. However, thank you. Major Chevalier should be quite well-equipped to handle things. All of the logistics, including decisions on when to pull back, I leave to you. If you need an executive order on anything, feel free to contact me, whether for direct approval or to be patched to General Omeaux."

Hinan smiles a little bit. "Highness, I had planned to handle it that way anyway. And no, they are absolutely and unequivocally not incompatible sentiments, as any glance around the globe will tell you. I do not mean offense; however, I know that you have lived a life of enormous freedom in many respects, to handle situations as you please. I simply don't want you to become comfortable with the idea of sending Julen troops on personal errands. That is how dictatorships are born." He bows his head a little. "I will make the arrangements myself."

Yin bows hers in return, just a moment. "Of course. And I do value your thoughts on the matter, Commander, and will keep the sentiment in mind, thank you." She can't really say "since we both know I'm new at this" or anything to that effect, though she wants to. She is learning. Slowly. "Is there anything you need from me?"

Had she been doing this a long time, and told him she wanted to do this, he would have begun machinations to see her deposed. As it stands, he is simply giving advice.

"Whose forces are we inserting the operative into? You must have some outside source for this. Or would you prefer to brief her yourself?

"It will be based on Kaz's information network and allies. True Irish military involvement is highly likely as they've allowed him unusually far into their forces, and since Rasputin is a personal concern of theirs. His rendevous point and a contact number," he has quite a few, of course, always changing, "are on page three of that packet. He's likely expecting a call, so if you have specific questions and concerns beforehand, you can contact him directly about him." Nothing like cutting out the middlemen in communication.

Hinan's nose wrinkles. From his standpoint, Kaz is nothing better than a mercenary terrorist. "I understand. I'll go find her, then, unless there's something else."

"No, that's all. You have my number if you need anything at all. Thank you, Commander Nara, for the time and involvement. I'll keep what you've said in mind."

He smiles a bit at that, and dawdles off to get hold of Ariella.

---

"Chevalier! Ariella Chevalier!" The black-skinned colonel L'enfante, an onyx wyvern, stands at the entrance to new mess hall at the base of Grace tower, a telephone in hand. "Front and fucking center!"

"Mm?" The yellow wyvern in question catches the ball for the paddleball she tends to play with for most of her breaks. There's something cleansing about the silly, mindless activity amidst such a harsh and unsual profession. In no time at all, though, she's in front of the colonel, and salutes, crisp and formal. "Colonel?" Like most others in her unusual unit, her uniform isn't entirely regulation...mostly, but she wears a cream-colored turtleneck beneath it rather than a collared shirt.

"Commander Hinan has hand-selected you for a mission of the utmost importance to the nation," L'enfante says, carefully avoiding saying 'Queen' as Hinan had said. "You are to travel to Belfast and meet up with a woman who will introduce herself as 'Sin'. I'm told her hair is green, and she'll be waiting for you at the airport. From there you'll join a counterterrorist outfit of Irish agents under the direct supervision of Interpol, and travel to Siberia, where you will assist in the rescue of one Nathan Weatherby and the capture or elimination of one Marchosias Rasputing, any questions soldier?"

Ari's eyebrows twitch upwards in surprise at this. They're intercepting Marchosias Rasputin? Why? "Yes, sir. Are the travel arrangements made, or do I need to do that now?"

"Made and you're on a plane in five hours. If you accept. I understand the Queen has a personal interest in this matter as well; I don't know what it is, but I'm not paid to know, and neither are you. You'll have a full briefing package available in flight. Understand that this mission may involve the shall we say skirting of a few international guidelines as well as hostage negotiation and potentially combat depending on the size of Rasputin's forces."

This grates inwardly, to a slight pause. She should feel honored or excited to be doing something involving a sponsor so high up in the command...but why couldn't it have just been one of the generals? Still, she nods once. "Yes, sir. I accept. I'll wrap up the few things I have here, and will be ready."

"Good attitude, soldier. There is one small issue that you may or may not find issue with. Sin's employer will be providing your equipment for this mission. I understand she works for Kaz. Expect something that needs practice." The colonel gives her a salute; he's a bit jealous. A mission for the queen? Feh. But a mission of international importance, with the opportunity to capture a high-priority terrorist, is something to be treasured.

She returns it again, staying military-serious. "Thank you, sir. May I be dismissed to prepare?"

"Soldier, when the hell do you have the brass to ask to be dismissed? I tell you when you're dismissed.' He smirks. "You're dismissed."

She grins at him, and scurries off to prepare. She'd been bored of monitoring stuff anyway!

---

A many thousands of miles from warehouse intrigue, life is much different. Yin is quite happy to be taking a quiet lunch with Revilier in the temporary--but by now broken in--home they share. It's a rare treat, and means the rest of the day will seem so much nicer. "...I honestly expected to see grey matter foaming out of his ears, it was delicious."

This, as she picks up her ringing phone. Smiles at her husband, and hits "talk." "Hey, what's up? Why, what's going on? All right. What channel?" She gets up to fetch the tv remote, and flips through to an imported channel--E!--to get a look at a couple of people talking and laughing in semi-comfortable--but very stylish--looking chairs.

"...and on the adoreable side of things, we have the King and Queen of Wyvern-controlled Julen caught in an uncommonly casual moment at an outdoor event. It's...well. We'll just show you."

Then the screen cuts to footage of a large military picnic about a week ago. There had been casual wrestling and sparring going on for pure sport and, between engagements and also because it's excellent for morale, Revilier and Yin had joined in a bit. When they'd fought one another, it had started focussed...and quickly disintigrated into rather silly fun.

Yin turns very red when video-her is flipped over Revilier's head--laughing too hard at an inside joke he'd poked her with to have stopped in--pinned by a grinning wyvern, which disintigrates quickly into groundfighting. They're showing mostly the parts where Revilier was winning, too.

"Oh...my. Well. Hm." Even her ears are red. After a few moments, she notes without looking back, "you can wipe off the smirk, I can feel it from here." She looks over her shoulder at him, grinning. "I bet Soze let this leak. He's been fidgeting for awhile over finding a way to make us seem personable, and also demonstrate that we're genuinely in love rather than a political couple."

Revilier does smirk. "I don't have a problem with it." He has that look on his face that says "hey frat brothers, look who I bagged last night."  "We're hotter than most TV couples. Let the world be jealous."

"'Most'? Someone is feeling delusionally modest today." Yin grins back at him, and looks back to the television.

"While watching this video, I had to think about what their love life must be like. I now need to change my pants."

"What you wouldn't give to be in on that, huh?"

"With him or her?"

"Normally I'm straight, but does it matter? Have you seen that man? There must be a hotness clause in the heterosexuality contract."

Yin snickers. "Up for a threesome, beloved?"

Rev smirks a bit more. "Three, four, five, bring 'em on."

She grins, wandering back over to him. Her hands fold idly over his chest, chin resting on top of his head as she continues to watch the amusingly embarassing story. "You do realize that was one of those booby-trapped questions the wife contract requires of me and you're sleeping on the couch now, right?"

"As long as there are boobies, I'm fine with traps." He smiles up at her a bit.

"Well. Speaking of which. How long is it until your next meeting?" Her smile has a very distinctive aire now, as she fiddles with his hair, and one of his fins.

"Ninety minutes.' He smiles, but gently kisses her hand and just holds it. "Not right now, hon. I'm too tired right now."

Yin smiles at him, eyes softening. "Aww. Poor beloved. They've been running you ragged." She kisses his hair softly. "Want to just go lie down? I won't take advantage of you much." She loves being held by him.

He smiles some. "I'd kinda like to just sleep, honestly. I don't give you the attention you deserve when I'm tired."

"That's what I meant." Yin smiles at him, leans down further to kiss high on his cheek, tenderly. "Go lie down, Revilier. I'll make you some hot chai tea." And, feeling oddly pleased with the...domestic-ness of it all, she heads off towards the kitchen.

He does this. Goes, lies down. Wonders why he felt the need to tell her that, when he's just... not in the mood. Wonders why he's not in the mood. 

Not long after, Yin has a cup of chai tea, brewed very strong and then cut with some steamed milk. Very tasty stuff. It's in a very nice teacup--their wedding gifts had included two different sets of fine china, since Yin is known to have a thing for gorgeous workmanship in things that are used anyway--and, smiling softly to herself at the smell of it, she carries this carfully upstairs. Sets a hand gently on Revilier's shoulder, smiling at him. "Here you go, beloved. I know it helps you relax."

He smiles at her, and at the cup. No, he has no idea what got into him earlier. He stands from the bed, dressed in a pair of cute fuzzy pajamas she'd gotten him as a joke gift and he'd insisted he loved anyway, wearing every night they were clean enough. They have a teddy bear on the butt, and are bright blue otherwise.

He all but flings his arms around her, careful of the tea of course, and squeezes her to his chest. "I love you darling, I love you, I love you so much I could--" he kisses her cheeks in turn and hugs her again, feeling oddly penitent.

Yin's quite taken aback, eyes wide a moment...before she grins, closing them. Hugs him in return, thrilled and tipping her head a bit to accept this kiss, and then returning it with one towards the back of his cheek, holding him happily. "I love you too. Forever sounds like a good date." She beams, and nuzzles him. Yay! He's feeling better. So's she, cuddled happily into his arms. "I don't have anything to do for three hours," she purrs. "So, about that nap?" Smiles.

He smiles, too. Wonders still what got into him. "How about... that nap." He kisses her then, softly, but certainly not without passion, and holds her tightly, just loving every bit of her, even more so because it feels so apologetic right now.

She beams, face soft. She hadn't been offended in the first place. Mildly disappointed maybe, but not offended. As much as he has on his plate at all times, and as much of the world's weight sits on his shoulders, it just happens. But she's more than happy to kiss him with all of the now substantial love in her heart, soon happily settled into his arms on the blankets, shoes kicked off.

Revilier holds her there, warm all over, glowing already. He kisses her gently, almost casually; there's no goal to rush to, just love to be shared right now, and he holds her and kisses her as if that is just the thing to do, hands only gently roaming her back.

It was a wonderful seventy minutes, followed by Yin giggling at a very quick and rather clumsy job of him dressing, helping where she can.

In two more hours, though, that smile is gone, face serious as she's dialing Revilier's phone again. Waits for him to pick up. "Hi. We have a bit of a situation."

"Just a sec, baby," Revilier purrs into the phone. She might be able to hear his voice, speaking to another delegation. "It's my wife, I have to take this. No, the convention can wait. I don't care. Go get a coffee or something." Pause. Shuffling. Door shuts. "Sorry, mon cher. What's wrong?" His voice says that it had been expected; of course, these days, it's always expected.

"Sorry to interrupt, beloved." Yin smiles a bit. "And, something simple gone awry, as per usual. Remember how I asked Hinan to dispatch a single agent to investigate the Rasputin situation?"

"Oui." He speaks French to her only when she's worried and/or they're in bed together.

Which does its thing, and makes her giggle just a little. She does so love him. "Well. He captured her, and is demanding the Golden Spell in return. I told him 'absolutely not' in no uncertain terms, of course. But..." she tilts her head a bit. "He then claimed to already have a version. Adelisa's." Recent history considered, this is definitely in the military Commander-in-Chief's ballpark. She's proactive, but knows when choices need to go to him.

"Send the coordinates to Hinan. Level the area." Revilier is quick and firm in voice, here. This is not a second thought situation.

Yin nods slowly. Closes her eyes. That's what she'd thought, yeah. "All right. There are also three bystanders present: Sin Emille, an Irish agent, and one of ours, Ariella Chevalier. Shall I assume we make a single STING attempt to get them out beforehand?"

"Only the three? How did you find out about the spell, love?"

"Major Chevalier called me via Sin's communicator. Irked at demands being not being made directly, I asked to speak to Rasputin, which was accommodated. According to them, Weatherby is dead. Unfortunately."

Silence.

"And his secret?"

"Rasputin claims to have it, it's what he offered in exchange for the Golden Spell in addition to Agent Chevalier. But don't let that change anything, beloved, for my sake. When an heir begins to become a more pressing need in the eyes of the public, we can adopt a deserving young silver wyvern from a loyal family, there are certainly several we could trust absolutely."

"We'll send in a sting, then. A quick one. Then the place dies."

Yin nods. "Would you like an attempt to capture Rasputin, or only hostage retrieval?"

"Capture him. If he's not a threat, the hostages should be safe."

"Alright, sweetie. I'll take care of it. Good luck in the rest of the delegation."

"Thanks, Yin. I love you, mon cher. I'll see you in a few hours, I hope."

She does have to smile, a bit. "I love you too. I'll count minutes. Bye, Revilier." She hangs up, breathes out. Going to be an interesting day. But at least, when all is said and done, she has Revilier. She can be happy.

---

In a well-lit, white room, Ariella has been held for only twenty minutes since her return.

Outside, two powerful men have been arguing for the better part of those twenty minutes about who should be the one to talk to her first. After a while, though, Ariella's superior backs down, and Revelier enters the small room himself.

"Name, rank." He doesn't demand, only states, as he shuts the door; dressed in fatigues instead of finery, he looks like just another soldier.

But, of course, he's not another soldier, and Ari gains a shade a white. "Ariella Chevalier. Major, Special Agent." Her voice is soft.

"Nineteen of my men are dead. Petrovic's report tells me that their deaths were not related to your actions. However, I want to know what you think." The general sits in front of her, speaking quietly, hands folded on the table.

Ari can't look at him. Her ear-fins maintain the same low droop they've held since leaving Russia. "I failed in my mission, and was captured. I delivered the information I was assigned to, however, had I not still been present, there would have been no sting. The area would have simply been bombed, I am sure. In that way, it is my fault."

"I agree. How do you suppose I should punish you, major?" Revilier's voice is still calm, not accusing in the least.

"I do not know. But I will not appeal it." This answer is soft, but lacks hesitation despite its enormity. It seems pre-considered...and she does mean it.

Revilier pauses a moment. "Did he tell you anything about the scientist's secret?"

"Not as much, as I would have liked." Ari finally looks up, trying to remember. Thinks. "He said that it had something to do with the golden spell. That it 'vitalized' blood and gave it living qualities. Weatherby tweaked it to convince it that a vampiric womb was unhealthy, and that a single fertilized egg was healthy. It was complex, and he had to continually rewrite it throughout the pregnancy."

The general nods. "And both he and Weatherby are dead."

"Yes, sir. Well..." Pause. "Rasputin told us that he was, it was not confirmed by our own sources. However, our scanners did detect two people in the building at our approach and only one by the time we entered, which corroborates the story somewhat. Someone's vitals did disappear when he claims that Weatherby died."

Another pause.

"What did you hope to accomplish, Chevalier?"

The fins sag again at this, back to where they were from the fainted of revivals at the more familiar area. "To successfully complete my assignment, sir."

"Did you intend to double-cross Rasputin?"

"...Yes, sir." There was, however, a pause.

And not one that went unnoticed.

"Are you positive?"

A pause. Longer, heavy.

"...No, sir." Quiet. "I would never have worked against Julen, or abandoned my duty. But Rasputin did have interesting ideas, and I hoped that an accord could be reached where he would be willing to cooperate, rather than...this. All this."

Revilier sits back in his chair. "What kind of ideas?"

"He believed that, just as the Queen is able to sustain herself from your blood alone without harm to you due to the Golden spell, its vitalizing nature could potentially function between two vampires as well, and enable them to feed off of one another. Were this true, and if all of the components could be safely procured, it would have been interesting to test in a commune setting as a way to eliminate the need for food sources entirely." This remains quiet and solemn, though.

Rasputin. He'd been a good man, in a twisted way. Had believed in things. Was even humble and faithful in the face of God, how many in this profession could claim that? Had fought for what he believed in, even against the world. Had he succeeded, he'd have been a great hero of history, his sins forgotten. Had he failed, he'd be just another inconsequential villain, a horrible person, his virtues dismissed. History was...fickle. She wonders if she'd been there long enough for the Stockholm effect. But no, she didn't think so.

Revilier listens, barely moving a muscle. He'd been much more interested in her thoughts than his, her voice, body language. And he has his answer.

"I'm relieving you of your position, Chevalier. Do you think that's the right choice?"

"Yes, sir."

Her voice is quiet, but...if he hadn't, she would have resigned.

"What do you plan to do, then?" Revilier is quiet, too.

Pause. "I don't know, sir. I have to think about that. Probably join a convent."

"Are you making a joke, soldier?"

"No, sir. I have many sins in need of absolution."

"Yin may want to speak with you at some point. Until then, consider yourself discharged. Medical." Quiet still, unblinking.

She nods a little, though cinging at the thought. "Yes, sir. May I consider myself free to leave the premises, then?"

"Turn in your tags, weapons, and any equipment you may still have. After that, you'll understand if I check in on you once in a while." Revilier shrugs. "You may leave."

She bows her head a vew moments, a hand over her heart. A respectful salute for high authority. "Yes, sir." She rises and, still unable to meet his eyes, just heads for the door. Wonders if anyone is going to beat the crap out of her before she gets off the complex. Possibly. She'd deserve it, though.

The general rises as well. Holds the door open for her, no anger in his eyes, just... neutrality.

In the hall outside, a short, huge-eared little fellow stands against the wall, waiting for her, a huge sign in his hands that reads 'Chevalier'.

Ari blinks. Is that...Kaz? His face had been all over every tv network everywhere, after all. She approaches quietly, after deliberation. "Um...did you need something?" she inquires softly. Not really in the mood to be friendlier than that, though Ari's "rude" is still sweet by most standards

Revilier steps out of the room behind her, and stops dead.

"Yeah. I heard you got displaced," the kitty-man says, smiling at Revilier, who glares. "We need to go now, though, cause I wasn't invited today."

Ari doesn't need to look behind her to guess the reaction cringes. Thinks. "I...shouldn't. I don't really want to be hunted down by my military today. I should just...go." She can't quite manage that brazen an act of disrespect towards the guy who is, essentially, her king. If this had been elsewhere, she'd have been interested in what he had to say, but...as it is, she quickly backs off a step, and hurries down the hall.

Menayen watches her go. Thinks about it a moment.

"What the hell are you doing?" Revilier demands. "You know I don't like you showing up unannounced."

"Need time to set your traps, I know. I need to talk to her though. She has something of mine." The kitty turns down the hall. "Smack your wife's ass for me!" And he bounces after Ariella, as Revilier presses a thumb and finger to the bridge of his nose. As usual.

"Heya you wait up!"

Ari cringes. She isn't in a good state of mind right now, anyway, and doesn't need any kind of pressure. Still...she finally closes her eyes a omment, and then her step slows. She looks back to Kaz, who hadn't been stopped by the General.

"You've got something that belongs to me." The kitty fellow stops in front of her, sitting kitty-like. "In your belly."

Ari cocks an eyebrow at this. "Pardon? Was there an implant at some point I don't know about?" She doesn't remember any unexplained periods of unconsciousness lately...

"The pills you took." Menayen smiles a bit. "Nano-surveillance! I need to have them back, though."

"Oh..." right. Well, that's irksome. "Can our people extract them?"

"Nope! I just need the data. Then... I'll destroy it." He smiles. "Pain-free. But I need you nearby, preferably in my lab, and Sin's worried anyway."

Ariella hesitates. After a few moments, glances back to Revilier for his reaction. If there isn't already one in place--and she doesn't think so--she does not need to give the army reason to put out a hit on her.

He's looking. But he turns his head, and walks away, down the hall.

Ari bites her lip. Hopes that's permission. She looks back to Kaz, and nods. "All right." Tries to smile, though considering what just happened, she isn't all that successful.

"You're gonna be fine. Don't worry. He won't do anything to you if you're in my care. Okay?" Kaz leads the way, and the soldiers part for him; he's got plenty of credentials among the soldiery. 

"Do you need to pick anything up?"

"No. But I do need to turn in my tags and equipment." Ari nods. In a minute, they're in front of Hinan's office. She breathes out. The principal's office was never this scary. Well, wouldn't have been even if she hadn't been a favored student. Smiles wanly at Kaz. "I'll just be a minute." She hopes. Breathes out again, and once again, and knocks softly on the door.

"It's open," he commander's voice floats through the door. He sits at his desk, formally dressed, looking absolutely crisp.

Ari closes her eyes. Breathes a shaky breath, and walks in quietly. Her manner is quiet, though she has an extra shade of white from her usual tan. She has, however, always been a good soldier. Approaches to a few paces from the desk and bows that respectful half-bow salute, a loose fist over her heart. "Commander."

She doesn't continue. She straightens up, just holding out tags.

Hinan's quiet. "I hope you don't expect me to take those."

Pause. "It was the general's order, sir. Shall I...put them on the desk?"

"You'll take them. And keep them. And someday, I'll call you back to duty. Clear?" Hinan leans back in his chair.

Ari's lips twitch. Pause. She withdraws her hand. It actually means a lot. She has a tremendous amount of respect for her commander. "Yes, sir. I will be prepared. Is there anything I should do on my way out, other than turn in my equipment?"

"You should make absolutely certain no one touches you. You're liable to be bugged if they do. And forward contact information here as soon as you get settled, wherever you go." Hinan smiles at her, a fair rarity.

Ariella manages to smile just the faintest bit, reassured. She does respect him, thus...the expression makes her feel just a little less despicable. "Yes sir. Er..." face is serious again. "I am already bugged, sir, evidentally, via ingestion and nanotechnology. Kaz is here, and claims that his people need to extract the information, after which he'll destroy them. The general heard this, and said nothing. However, what would you have me do?"

"You've been discharged. The general can no more tell you what to do than tell the sun to set." Hinan chuckles a little bit. "Which amuses me to no end. Do what you feel is right."

Ari's lips twitch again, amused. "Yes, sir. I will send you my updated contact information once it's available. Is there anything else?" Ari is a warm person, but you would never guess it from a transcription of her conversations. She's always so utterly formal in such things that her actually manner would be lost entirely.

"Just good luck. That's all."

"You too, sir. I...hope to work with you again in the future." She isn't begging forher job back. She isn't sure she wants it. She simply meant that at face value, respects what he does for his position. Again with the formal bow-salute, and she leaves quietly.

Breathes out once the door is shut...leans on it.

Smiles, just faintly.

And then picks herself up, looking around for Kaz. Nods when she finds him. "All right. Let's go, then?"

"We might. That's very Yinish. You should work on that." Kaz waddles out to the front, flashes his credentials and the middle finger to the door guard, and hugs his car. Yes, hugs it, a strange little bullet-car with twelve wheels.

Ari does wonder at the comment, tilting her head...and it tilts again at the car. Huh. "Er...a friend of yours?" She can't help but smile a touch, amused, at the hug.

"It's a great car! It does things. Now, it's for little people, so you may have to fold up a bit." The hatch opens; there's enough room, but it's a little tight, in the back. "Hop in, hot stuff."

And she does. Glances back at the tower...and then slips in, and sits down. She's in just her turtleneck and a pair of soft grown slacks now. And the cross, of course.

Menayen slips into the front, slams the lid, smiles, and turns on some country music.

The vehicle squeaks to life, leaps into the air and quite suddenly shoots across Julen, shattering the sound barrier in mere moments.

Ariella can't help it. She screeches a little, before shutting herself up and just watching, eyes wide.

"Fun! Right? Wanna do a loop-de-loop?"

"No!" It's a little sharper than she'd like. "No, that's all right." Ari covers her eyes. At least at this rate, she won't have to make decisions regarding civilian life.

"Aw. Okay! So... calm down. Trust me. Trust in the ears. So you're sad. Wanna talk? We have a minute." Menayen turns down the country.

"What? Um..." Pause. "No. I mean...I'm sorry. No." She's really off-balance right now, and Kaz has been an official enemy of the state for a good chunk of her career. Worse, lately, though Julen's relationship with him has been strange since Yinxirziji's rise to power...another reason to be unsure of that corner of leadership. The shut down in speaking is automatic, years of training. She doesn't even think about it really.

"You're not sorry. But hey, that's okay, starting a relationship with a lie is awesome. You'd think we were dating."  Pause. "You don't like country?"

He's a strange one. Ari's already having trouble keeping up with him. And he's not even trying. Still, she smiles a little, sheepishly. "I do, actually. Well, some of it. Older bits, generally."

"I don't, usually, but when I fly, I like to get down. On the farm, you know." Menayen sits back in the chair. "So did you know Petrovic's in love with Yin? Awesome, right? I bet she doesn't even know. You know he almost got fired demanding to interrogate you? Didja huh yeah you did."

"Er...I didn't, no." Ari colors just a touch. Considers. "I'm glad he didn't." That's a touch soft. "He was...displeased. And for good reason, but...still."

"yeah he might've kicked your ass. Revilier would've killed him. Seriously. He knows Petrovic loves Yin. He loves Yin, though. He's crazy. They're all crazy."

She has to grin a bit at that. They're in good company, with this particular friend of theirs. "I had noticed, yes. But...it does seem to work for them. Somehow."

"It'll stop eventually. I'm set up for it, they'll be fine. But you, you I worry about. I worry because you fell in the lap of something that could change the world and shit happened."

Ari's ear-fins sag a little, though her expression doesn't particularly change. Until, a few moments later, a sad little smile peeks onto her lips. "Those things usually go hand-in-hand, yes," she observes, a touch quiet.

"They do. But you know, Rasputin was gonna die. He was too rigid, he was never going to succeed. No one likes a good thing forced on them. Don't blame yourself, eh?"

Ari looks aside at this. Out at the...very blurry scenery. Kaz is pretty up-to-date on what had gone down then. "Playing with trust," she finally notes softly, "is supposed to be my job. But it never sits quite right."

"Then you're really with the wrong career path, buns. Can I call you buns?"

A corner of her lips has to twitch at this. Pause. "Why do I get the impression," she notes softly, almost timidly despite amusement, "that you call everyone Buns?"

"Cause I do."

"Just checking." Ari has to chuckle. Looks out the window again. "So may I ask where we're going? Or would that not end up answered properly?"

"Chicken." Menayen turns. They're actually headed to Antarctica. He lets go of the wheel. "so. Hitting on you. Cool?"

Ari grins at him a little. Kaz is pretty amusing. "Well, I was serious when I told the general that I'm seriously considering joining a convent, so that depends upon how you feel about nuns."

"You're not a nun yet. And I can fit under a habit." He's driving with his feet. Wonders if she's noticed.

Ari titters. She'd noticed...but it's a freak car to match its driver, so she isn't any more worried than if he'd used his hands.

***

"Hey do you mind cold?" Menayen taps the window. "Cold."

"Hm?" Ari look up. Out the window. Blinks. Actually, she's a summer person. But...also a special agent. She goes where she has to. "...No, of course not. It's fine." She smiles.

"Liar. Don't worry, though. The compound where we're going is nice and comfy." The kitty pushes the wheel abruptly up, and the craft nose-dives, screaming toward the ground at an eighty-six degree angle.

Ari jerks stiff, eyes golfball-wide and fingers suddenly gripping...but she doesn't move to stop him. Instinctive panic, but instinctive realization that he's probably not intending to kill them for hte hell of it.

The ship doesn't right, and the ground streams up, surrounds them both... and the keep going. Half a mile down the vessel eases to right and glides into pitch black, streaming toward a pinpoint in the near distance. Gears and cogs and tech and such are everywhere as the vessel swings onto a platform and stops, so fast that it should have propelled them through the windshield, but... no G-force at all.

The hatch pops open, and a warm, oil scent floods inside.

"Hop out, Buns. Welcome to Cat's Cradle!"

Ari catches her breath. "All horrifying demi-car trips are okay when ended with a pun," she chuckles after a moment. Carefully steps out, and looks around.

Menayen snickers. "That's totally not why it's called that."

He says as an enormous, white-eyes cat leaps from a rock cluster nearby, landing on all fours not far away from Ari. It looks like a big panther, with a gray coat and long, thick whiskers. It licks its chops, staring at her.

Wide eyes. Again. Still. "Um...eep." This is almost too quiet to hear. "Hi...? Kaz, your pet doesn't bite, does he...?" Takes a step back.

"Yes. But only when I ask him to or he wants to. Um, yes." Menayen pats the cat's head. "We found him all alone down here. Don't know what he ate, but here he is. Anyway, my lab is up ahead, and you should see Rasputin." He points down the circular, stone hallway, toward a techy-looking facility entrance.

Ari cringes. "...You brought a corpse here?" It's creepy.

"Uh-huh. But don't worry, he's not rotty yet." Menayen walks in front of her, the cat following. The doors open, and... there he is. Floating, suspended in the air, arms out, stark naked; and still bearing the deep punctures from Petrovic's attack. He's inside a massive tube, surrounded by panels and screens; very sci-fi, and in the back, the cavern opens outward into a vast, vast neon pink recess.

"Go say hi," Menayen snickers. "He won't answer, but yeah."

Ari's somewhat upset at the sight...she hadn't been prepared to look Rasputin in the face again after more or less betraying him to his death. It both helps and doesn't that his eyes are closed...the distinctive eyes had been both quintessential of how she'd known him, but also made him appear as more "enemy" and less "person."

Then she realizes he's naked, and blushes. She looks away...though for which reason is tough to say. "So...what is all this? I mean, why is he here?"

"I'm reviving him." Menayen smirks. "Of course. Quite a pecker, though, I might shorten that thing before I wake him up. Fucking too much going for this guy."

And of course, as was probably Menayen's full intention, Ari's pink cheeks deepen to a bright red. Then...the answer sinks in. "...What? You can do that? I mean..." Pause. "But I didn't think technology like that was anywhere close, anywhere in the world!"

Menayen taps on the glass with a claw. "You're aware that we're warm half a mile under Antarctic soil. I mean, I said that, right?"

Fingers to bridge of nose. Okay...yeah. "Point. But...still. That's more conceivable."

"Is it? How long does a consciousness take to leave a body?" Menayen sits on the step, looking up.

"I don't know..." Ari admits. "I guess there are accounts of more than twenty hours out, though with brain damage."

"That's how long a body can last. The humanoid consciousness that religion calls a soul stays in the body for two-hundred hours. Give or take a few minutes." Menayen frowns a little. "This man knows how to help Yin have a baby. Menayen Lothos Emille is going to rip that knowledge right out of his head, if that's what it takes."

Ah...So he really is pretty tight with her. Ari nods a bit. "Yeah. It would really, really help secure place and respect as the queen. Unless it backfired, but yeah, that's true of anything..." she muses.

"She doesn't want it for Queen. I don't think. She wants it because she's disgustingly maternal. And anything to get General Deltoids' baloney in her again." He snickers at himself.

Ari blinks...then titters. "Er...dear. But...she doesn't really strike me as the maternal sort?" She actually genuinely curious. Yin is a hard-assed, cold ex-spy who's getting good at shredding the political arena, usually legitimately though sometimes through blackmail, and no so prone to falling victim to the same.

"Didja ever see what happens when a mama bear and her cubs get separated by a dude?" Menayen turns a dial in front of the tube, and the temperature in the room increases subtly.

"A dude needs a replacement face?"

"Precisely. That's Yin. A mama bear." Menayen yawns a great big kitty yawn, all of a sudden. "Uff! Excuse me. Sleepy. Now, you know, he won't be happy to see you. Probably not. You know?"

Ari's ear-fins sag. "He stood up to protect me and I betrayed him to his death. I'm sure he won't be." That isn't exactly what had happened, of course, but it's certainly how she's construed it by now.

"Well. You'll be safe. But he's strong. Creepy. Those rings won't come off his hands. Powerful stuff, and I haven't figured them out yet."

"Rings?" She looks that way...careful to keep her eyes up. Ah...right, no armor, but she supposes the eyes are intact? So they'd been looking at the wrong wildcard.

"Yeah, rings. I'm guessing, somehow, they had something to do with his night-sight, strength, aim, and all. I talked to Petrovic before I talked to you." Menayen wiggles. "Why did you go with him, anyway?"

Ari shrugs a little, folding her arms. Isn't going to answer. Changes her mind. "I don't know. At first it was just to get trust. But...some of his ideas are scarily radical. Some of them are good. Most terrorists are that way, except the crazy ones. But...Rasputin seemed different. Like maybe he could actually do something with his ideas...I thought they were worth trying to push, develop, they could help everyone, Julen included. If he just backed off of some of the crazy areas. I'd kind of hoped I could get him working under us. To balance his ideas a bit, make them more workable. And it may have gotten Julen off of his back, too, and had him under some national protection from the rest. It just...could have helped everyone. Instead I just messed up and ended up with two dozen dead from my side, and Rasputin too." Eyes close.

"Yeah, I know, when you called in that special forces unit, it was a huge mistake. Shame on you." The kitty is totally, totally deadpan.

"I knew they would, though, with the report of Adelisa's spell. Maybe I should have waited on that one." Of course, she'd done her job by relating critical information. Pause. "But if I'd just tried to subdue rasputin, maybe I could have stopped any of them from dying. Instead of just sitting downstairs where I wouldn't get a boo-boo...."

"Or maybe if Rasputin hadn't shot twenty-two people, he never would've ended up there, you never would've been sent, and then all that stuff. Ooh! Or if his parents didn't get stinkface drunk and conceive him! Ooh! Or if God didn't invent whiskey they wouldn't have gotten drunk! HOw far you wanna go back?"

Ari wrinkles her nose at him. He's beginning to chip at her self-loathing, or at least cover it with a spattering of amusement. "You're entirely too logical.

"Of course." He hops on top of one of the consoles, and swishes his black hair. "I'm a," dramatic pause, "scientist. And you totally want me."

Ari just shakes her head...but can't help the titter that escapes her lips. "Of course." Menayen's good.

"Of course." But for all the women Menayen has hit on, he's loved exactly three. One didn't love him back. The second died. The third betrayed him. So he's cautious. "So. The reason I brought you here, is because I think you are in the unique position to communicate with him. I know he's ridiculously feminist. It's fucking creepy.  And for whatever reason, he connected with you. Right?"

Ari nods a bit. "Yeah. I doubt I'll still have that trust now, though."

"Do you know that, though? You know what he's done. He may appreciate your position." Menayen smiles. "Besides, I'm going to drug the fuck out of him."

"Maybe." Still, Ari cringes a little at the last bit. So...she's going to be using Rasputin again? Nice.... "Also, for my clarification...there are no nanobot things, then, correct?"

"Of course there are. I'm not a liar much. Wanna lose 'em?"

"Well...whenever. I don't know the timing of how things need to progress. I was just curious." Ari smiles a bit. She's nervous. When she's nervous, the ends of her fins glow a little bit. Literally. It's kind of funny.

"You're a sexy nightlight."

"Huh? Oh." She covers them, blushing a bit. Smiles sheepishly. "Nervous reflex."

"Sexy reflex. So, come over here, and lie down, and I'll kill those icky nano's. Eh?"

"Sure." Ariella smiles a bit, glances back to Rasputin, and then heads where bidden, lying down. "May I be clothed?" she inquires.

"You may, but it's not necessary." The kitty nods sagely.

Ari titters. "You make me glad I'm wearing a turtleneck."

"You're welcome." Kitty leads her to the table, a stainless steel, very basic table. There's actually a sack of flower on it.

"So should I move this?" Ari inquires. Never touch anything in a spy-scientists lab.

Menayen sniffs it. "Nope! It's cocaine. Lie down. Want some?"

Ari blinks. Snickers after a moment. No...he'd be reacting differently after sniffing it if that were true. "Sure." And she seats herself carefully, and then lies back.

He smiles at her. Cute. He pads away; Menayen's actually wearing shoes he had specially designed to quietly squeak, that woomph woomph woomph sound. He comes back with a long, blue rod, glowing black and violet.

"Now I'm going to wave my rod over you. If you like it, I'll do it again."

Ari can't help a giggle. "'All night long' best finishes the sentiment, I think." Blushes. Wasn't suggestive, of course, just making a joke.

"Awesome." Menayen snickers, shaking his head. "Awesome, just, I think I'm in love." He moves the wand over her, and Ari should be able to feel a little bit of fire in her veins; not pain, just heat.

She shivers at the...oddity, of it. Grudgingly trusts Kaz on the matter, though, and stays still.

This continues for fourteen seconds. Kaz finally puts the implement away, turning it off with an electric sizzle. "You're good," he notes. "Just don't sit up too fist. Your equilibrium will be off for one minute and eight seconds."

Ari grins a little at the oh-so-precise number. Carefully sits up...and her head swims. Enough that she gives it up after about eight seconds and lies back down. One minute to go. "You weren't kidding," she chuckles. But thank you."

Of course, the creepiness and unease of the situation, from where she'd sitting, are readily apparent. She's lying on a table in the lab of an oft-enemy mastermind. Creeeepy.

"I never kid. And you have goosebumps. What's wrong? Cold table? Need litter? Need a kitty hug?"

The gray panther-cat thing mewls, a low, loud mewl.

"I'm okay," she manages with a small smile. "A long day..." cut off, when the cat mewls. Blinks at it. Weird.

"I'll bet. Is there anything I can do to make you comfortable?" Menayen turns his head when the tube mechanism beeps. Rasputin's wounds are beginning to seal.

Ari looks over that way. "What does that mean...?"

"I didn't tell it to do that." Menayen starts to pad over there.

Rasputin's eyes shoot open, demonic as ever. His head snaps to Menayen. His muscles bulge, arms thrashing, ripping lines out of the consoles, blood pouring from the slots where tubing tears from his skin.

Ariella cringes...jumps off her table before she knows what she's doing. Sways, catches her balances on it...damned nightstick. She shakes her head, finally clearing it staunchly, and runs over to Rasputin's tube, right up alongside it. "Hey, stop! You're going to hurt yourself, you haven't healed yet...!"

His eyes fix on Ariella. He calms almost instantly, stops thrashing. Menayen hammers on the sedative button.

Rasputin puts his hand against the tube, looking down on her. His eyes calm.

Ari breathes out. Oh, good. He didn't smash through the glass and strangle her. That's a step in the right direction. She sets her hand over his, looking up at him. "I don't know if you can hear me through this," she notes. "But, you're healing in there. He'll let you out when you're done. Okay? Just...relax, for now." She tries to smile. Doesn't quite manage, creeped out.

"Sedative button's broken," Menayen blinks. Looks at Rasputin, calm, floating, his wounds sealing in the bloody water. Looks at Ari. "Oh. I guess that worked, too. I'm kinda surprised he's not more pissed at you, but yay!"

"I am too," she observes sheepishly. Looks over to Kaz. "But I suppose I'll be waiting here until he's finished healing, then." Nods a bit. Breathes out, glances up to Rasputin, and then wanders out of the way, sitting on the floor in easy sight nearby for lack of a table in the lab.

Doesn't stare at the creepy guy, though.

He's naked.

Menayen nods to her, knowing she's not looking.

"Do you need food? Whiskey? A hug?" he asks, dead serious.

Ari smiles at him a little. Wonders what Kaz's deal is. If he really is like that with people, is concerned about everyone...he's quirky enough that it seems possible. Or if he just acts that way to gain trust. He's quirky enough that it seems undetectable. Still...she does kind of hope it's the latter.

"I'm kind of hungry," she admits, remembering that she hasn't eaten since Anjuk. "But...do you suppose he is?" Meaning Rasputin. It wouldn't be cool to eat in front of him. And she won't.

"Nah. He... well he was being fed intravenously. Dick." Menayen points to the door. "If you turn left out of here, there's a little access door. It leads to the goody bag. Any food you want, just ask the robots."

Ari nods...thinks aobut it. Smiles just faintly, and nods. "Alright. I'll...do that. And will be right back. This is the gesture she makes to Rasputin, too... "one minute," and wanders off that way.

The hall opens quickly, the panel very obvious; it says "FOODNESS" on the door. 

The cat follows.

Inside the access panel, what looks exactly like a McDonald's store front manned by dozens of very robot-ish robots, metal and blinking lights.

"Welcome to Menayen's," the cashier says. "Ariella Chevalier, you have eightbugoddamnjillion credits. What would you like?"

Pause. The number does make her lips twitch. Anything, Kaz had said. Just to be snarky, she can't help but test it. "Er...do you have monkfish, and mushrooms?" she inquires. She loves French cooking, she does.

"Would you like a truffle with that?" the robot asks, as a second vanishes into the back room.

"Er...seriously?" Ari blinks. Pause. "Er...certainly...thank you. Smiles a bit. She's impressed.

"Welcome." The second robot returns, with a plate of steaming, well-prepared monkfish and mushrooms; with a big, fat truffle on the side. It slides the platter to Ariella, beeps.

Ari bows her head. Smiles. "Thank you!" Takes this, more than a little thrilled at how it smells, and turns to wadnder back in teh direction of the lab.
The cat is waiting for at the door.

And of course, perks up at the food.

Menayen, meanwhile, is working on the sedative button.

"Smells gooood you got expensive tastes. I like lollipop biscuits."

Ari chuckles sheepishly. "I was actually joking when I requested it. Your cafeteria is fantastic Thank you for dinner."

"You're welcome. My cafeteria is special. It serves people who need loved really badly and don't know it." Menayen taps the glass.

Ari...can't help a guilty giggle at the thought that crosses her mind. "Aren't you supposed to not do that to fish tanks?" Rasputin may catch a quick, sheepish-apologetic look, before she takes takes a bite of the food to stiffle further giggling at the thought. Dhe'd have been making fish-faces at him if he'd been a good friend of hers.

"Only when it's not a giant cod." Menayen snickers at her. She's cute. Too cute. And she totally dodged the love statement. But he'll remember. "Good food?"

"Oh, extremely." Ari beams. "French food is comfort food when you're French. Or grew up that way. Home cooking."

"I hear you." He hasn't had home cooking in... too long. He presses a button, and a screen surrounds the tube with black light. Rasputin glows eerily in the tank.

"So. What do you want for yourself, Ari?"

"I...have no idea," she admits after a few moments. "It's easy to go through the motions of your job, especially an intensive job, and not think about it that much at all. I...haven't really had that long, that I've needed to think about it. However long it took us to drive here."

Menayen smiles. "Are you gay?"

Ari titters. "No. Why, do I have that vibe?"

"No. I just wondered." He sits close to her, looks at her, thinking. "You strike me as someone who really needs someone. I could be wrong."

Ari blushes a little at this, uncomfortable at the attention. Still, she smiles that soft little smile. "That's a little personal, isn't it?" Grins a bit. "Still...without my job, maybe I'll be able to get a pet or something. I've wanted one for quite awhile, but my sudden absences wouldn't be fair to the creature."

"Is it too personal?" Menayen smiles a little. "I'm sorry. I won't ask anymore until you're comfortable." He has kitty eyes going full right now.

Ari looks at him. For several seconds. Wrinkles her nose. "You're good at that."

"I am! Thank you." He looks down and away. "I, for my part, am almost ready to leave."

"Leave? For where?"

The kitty smiles a little more softly. "I'm leaving Earth, of course. I'm going home."

She blinks, eyes widening a little. Thinks. "I guess that shouldn't surprise me so much..." she finally notes. Grins a little. "Come on. You'll miss pizza."

"I will. That's why I'm bringing recipes." He smiles. "After I'm done with Rasputin. I've been here too long, and slowly, little bit by little bit, I've lost my friends, my loved ones. They're gone. I'm a sidekick."

Ari nods a bit, face softening with sympathy. "Well...the queen seems to really like you."

"She likes me. When it's convenient." He's quiet about this, very matter-of-fact. "I need to go find my love, though. I'm too old to have casual friends and nothing else."

"Your love? Is she pretty?" He's sad. She needs to get him happy.

"Oh, not someone specific. Just... mine." He scratches on the floor. "Some people end up in subservient roles so long they miss their chance."

Ari smiles at him. "So, what's your dream girl like? And don't be pragmatic in dreaming, either." She beams.

He shrugs a little. "She's normal. She laughs at my stupid jokes. She's thoughtful, and a little vulnerable. She lets me take care of her. She's not so hung up on her own career that she can't just... be happy, loving me."

Ari smiles at him. "It sounds like you're really tired of all the spy stuff," she notes. It's hard to get out of, though. Leaving works!

"Nah. It's fun. I'm just tired of being that one guy. That guy on the radio. That guy who's the backup. So. Wanna come?" He smiles brightly.

Ari blinks. "Um...it's not that it doesn't sound wonderfully interesting, it's just...I like my friends and family and home here."

"I know." He smiles on, but the shift in his eyes is unmistakable. The tube beeps. He looks to the side. "He's ready to come out."

"Oh...good." Ari breathes out, smiles a bit. Though she's still concerned about possibly getting her ass kicked afterward.

Meanwhile, another light on Kaz's console lights up: intruder.

He notices, of course. Intruder? Here? He hops up to the console and flips open a screen, trying to get a visual.

It's actually got quite a pair of ears...a serinian only slightly taller than himself with tawny hair, a familiar amber-vested outfit though the shirt and pants are now black, and one arm bandaged. Also, a pronounced limp. Still, she glances idly around as she walks, but mostly just walks with direction and purpose.

He almost faints. "Ari stay right here." He notes the position of the intruder and dashes, literally runs, to the door. If Ari doesn't stop him, he'll run all the way to the intruder's location."

She doesn't...just blinks.

Felina, meanwhile, stiffens when a certain little scientist comes barrelling towards her. "No pouncing no pouncing!" This probably comes too late, though.

He skids to a halt. This is an older Menayen, afterall. Just stares at her. Looks at her arm. "What happened?" he immediately asks, the supporting character to the end.

Felina breathes a relieved sigh. Grins sidelong at him. This is not the creepy older Felina he'd encountered recently, this is his. "It's a long, long...long long story." She chuckles. "Related to the reason it took me so long to find out you got yourself stranded a million miles from home. So I'm a little late on the pickup, if you're even still interested in that. But it will be fine." She grins a little. She's only just off the islands at Abimgula, and still not entirely recovered from the injuries that had first put her into seclusion there.

She tilts her head. "You seem tense. I should have Mara-kuru stuff you full of cookies, or somesuch."

His eyes are a moment from flooding. He walks toward her, slowly, calmly, and puts his arms around her; hugs, just a moment, not long, and lets go.

Aww...

It hurts. It really hurts. But then, Felina has the pain tolerance from hell. She just smiles, and hugs him back, gently. "You all right, Menayen...? You're kind of...overwhelming me." She grins a bit. Empath, yes.

He steps away. Wipes his eyes, and that quickly, it's over.

"I'm fine. Why are you here?" it's not accusative, and sounds genuinely curious.




























































































"Because something was poking my mind that you were in trouble of some sort," it doesn't just extend to direct physical dangers, "and you're my friend. I needed to check on you. Imagine my surprise when I found you so far from home." She smiles a bit. Lets out her breath when the hug breaks.

"I'm not in trouble. Much. No more than usual. I sort of built a country. I made some very good acquaintances. I..." he's quiet. "You need fixed up. I can fix you up."

Felina tilts her head. Considers. He's in trouble, in his head. Depressed, sad...and that's already breaking just a little bit, just from showing up. Yeah. Psionics are great to have at moments. Never more than when they let you take good care of friends far and wide. Finally, smiles a bit. "Maybe! Magical healing doesn't work, but I suppose we haven't tried the normal stuff. Sounds like you've been a busy, busy munchkin."

"Very. And I have absolutely nothing to show for it. Follow me." He turns, so quickly back into the routine that even he doesn't feel it shredding him inside. He pads his way back to the room where he left Ariella; he has nano injections there that should fix her write up.

Felina ponders quietly. She's done something wrong again...and she's very concerned about Menayen right now.

Ari blinks at the appearance of the second serinian. "Er...hi there!"

"Hello." Felina smiles.

"Ariella Chevalier hotness, this is Felina hotness." He smiles a little. Weakly, now. "Ariella's a wyvern. Also a nightlight. Sitcha butt on the table, kitty."

"Alright." Felina does this. "...Cold." She chuckles.

"It wouldn't be good medicine if it wasn't a cold table." He smiles at her. Grabs a syringe from the console; one of six, he'd brought for Rasputin. The needle isn't long, and the stuff inside is glowing brightly pink. "This is gonna feel funny. Is that okay?" He's all business when it comes to medicine.

"Of course! I trust you." Felina smiles brightly. she's missed Menayen, who isn't "Kaz" to her.

As such, he's glad the shutter is around Rasputin's tube.

He jams the needle into her skin. It's very quick, and should feel like an ice cube stuck to her skin.

She jumps a little, and snickers. "Cold. You have a cold fixation now." She grins at him. "Thank, Menayen."

He smiles a little, a muppet smile. "You're welcome." He's quiet. Disposes of the needle. "It should start fixing you up pretty fast."

"Thanks, Menayen." Felina smiles at him...though still concerned. "Honestly, this is the best health I've been in in a long time. I've been healing...several years now." She chuckles. "And am happy to be walking again." She smiles at him. "But I'll admit, you have me a bit concerned. You don't really feel like...you."

How long has it been? He doesn't remember. "I'm sorry?" He looks at her. "I'm worn out, is all. And lonely. I'm leaving this planet, though, It'll be okay."

Felina smiles a bit. She's worn out, too--a trying few years--but most unlike Menayen, she has a great support network to keep her grounded. "Oh? Heading anywhere in particular?"

"I was thinking of seeing if I could make it inside a star." He takes another syringe, quietly, standing just beside her field of vision, and injects himself.  Disposes of the needle.

Pause. Tilts her head. "That sounds kind of lonely, doesn't it?"

"I heard heaven was inside. I wanna go." He looks at Ariella. "You okay?"

Ari smiles a bit. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Felina, meanwhile, is concerned. That was an idly suicidal notion. Thinks. "Well..." she smiles a bit. "Before you do, would you consider visiting with the rest of us a bit?" She smiles. "I've been staying on the nether plane for quite awhile. With a vampire by the name of Korliss, I don't believe you've met him, but Mara's around to. I'm sure she'd be absolutely thrilled to have you awhile, and we all love your company. Even my brother likes you, which is pretty unique." She chuckles.

"Yes, most people don't like me." Menayen's console beeps. "Ooh! Chicken's done." He pushes another button, and Rsputin's shutter whines open. He's healed entirely now, and awake, looking around.

Felina wrinkles her nose. "Hey now. I meant that my brother doesn't actively like many people. He's too shy for that."

This, of course, gets Ari's attention. She glances over that way...smiles faintly to see Rasputin's wounds just scars. Looks to Menayen. "So do we...have clothes for him?"

Felina glances his direction, idly evaluating his energy signature of a few moments. Then back to Menayen, curiosity sated.

"Yeah," the kitty nods. "Pretty sexy clothes, actually. He'll look like a heavy metal guitarist. Again." He glances at Felina. "This guy knows how to help vampires have babies."

"Huh." She considers this a few moments. Korliss...may be really interested in that, actually. "Impressive, actually." She does afford Rasputin a small smile when he looks her way, before looking back to Menayen. "Kind of an unusual specialty, though. Are you tapping a smexy vampiress?" Grins a small, fangy grin.

He smiles a bit. "I know one! She's tapping a stud though. She's a lot like you, actually. You two would get along famously. Or kill each other. Great butt, though. Like Ariella."

Ari blushes at that. Or Rasputin. Not that she would ever admit to having looked, though.

Felina grins. "Always hard to tell. And aw, you're such a sweetie. Seriously, the world needs more friends like you. You need to take the guy out of the fishbowl, though? I can wait, sitting feels good."

"Yeah. Be aware though. He's not going to be happy with us." Menayen presses two buttons at once, and the tank begins to drain with a great rush of liquid. Rasputin settles to the bottom, hands on the glass to keep himself upright. A spray of water rinses him of the liquid, and the IV's hiss and pop loose. He looks at Felina with those unearthly eyes, studying her. Golden. And he wonders.

"Ari. His clothes are in the locker over there," he points to a stainless steel door on the wall. "Would you be a dear and let me watch you swish over there and get them?"

"Of course." Ari smiles, adn heads over there. Much unlike one Yinxirziji would have done, there's no extra swish tease or to injure construction workers.

Menayen looks at Felina when Ari goes to the left. "I know Heaven's in the sun, Felina. I've seen it. My friend, she met real angels."

"I can take you there," Felina offers, smiling a bit. "It's not uncommon to have to retrieve Shards from inside high-gravitational objects, I do it regularly. I've never been into this one, though."

"No, thank you. I wanna do it myself. Make it there on my own. Or you know. Die trying." Smiles.

Felina nods a bit, thoughtful. She's going to be keeping an eye out to prevent the latter...or stop him from trying. "Why the fixation on reaching heaven, though?" This, as Ari approaches with Rasputin's clothing.

"I always wanted to go. I don't think I'm going to make it there the usual way." He smiles. Turns to Ariella.

"I'm going to let him out of the tube. Put the clothes close to it, hey?"

Marchosias Rasputin's lip twitches.

Ari nods...excited and nervous. Doesn't let her eyes wander, though...puts the clothes on a console right beside it, and backs off.

Felina, still sitting casually on the table, is pretty amused at the wyvern's shyness.

The tube lowers, bit by bit. Rasputing stands up, silent. Steps down from the pedestal.

Menayen's taser falls out of his sleeve. Just in case.

He reaches for the clothes... stretches them over his body, covering his deep muscles. He really is shredded from toe to tip. His eyes never leave Ariella, though. Those monstrous eyes, staring at her, questioning her.

Ari's trying to stay calm. And not look ashamed. It doesn't go that well, really. She meets his eyes for part of the time...and then finally looks down and away.

He doesn't.

His hands light up gold, the rings screaming with the healing spell.

He lunges -- for Felina.

Felina blinks. Is more curious than anything at the spell...and in such, doesn't move out away from the grab or tackle or whatever.



He hands clasp around her injured arm, streaming with the spell.

The reaction is immediate...and dramatic. The whole length of the scar on her chest lights in a quick succession of pale green runes, flaring brightly from beheath her vest and shirt, starting low on her abdomen and racing up the length of the scar. The pale green light winds immediately down her arm as well...not as strongly, as the arm injuries aren't from Moorn's blow, but it still senses the presence of healing magic it was designed to rebut. Rasputin can probably feel the green energy actively fighting the gold, shoving back against him and twisting, tearing back the bands of golden energy trying to seal the wound.

When it comes to spell-weaving, Radivishe Moorn trumps Adelisa Omeaux.

Felina, meanwhile, half doubles over in pain, before catching herself...keeping it to a small grimace, and hardly moving after the initial jerk. She trembles a little, eyes closed. "I thank you, really," she manages after a few moments, voice more strained than she'd like, "but I don't know that I have the strength for a proper healing right now."

He's not listening. His eyes are focused, perfectly focused, watching the green lights, watching the way they swirl and flow. And the spell changes, dodging the repulsing measures.

Two of the symbols flare blue and wink out, just as Menayen's taser digs into Rasputin's back.  The spell stops, the terrorist stiffens straight up, but whirls instead of falling, shoves the kitty away. Backs up, hands raised, eyes absolutely feral.

Felina's stiffened...Menayen will find himself caught over a second or so as though by a big pillow to prevent him hitting something or doing harm. She's about to do more, but pauses.

Ari is lunging forward, herself, to grab one of Rasputin's arms, trying to put herself between him and Kaz...paying little mind to the simple fact that Rasputin coule break her in half if he had half a mind to. "Hey, wait! He's just trying to protect her...!"

He whirls, turns like a shot in the dark, hand clapping around her neck, shoving her, moving faster than he ever did in front of her before to press her against the console.

Glowing gold pours like molten jewelry over her, the spell streaming into and out of her, so his grip causes no pain, only the pleasant feeling of Revilier's spell. He looks at her, monstrous eyes full of forgiveness, compassion, perhaps confusion. Different eyes.

Every muscle in Ari's body had tensed at the grab, and the slam against the console, gasping...she's a full-blooded wyvern and no weakling, but she's fast coming to the conclusion that Rasputin is unquestionably one of the most dangerous men in the world on an individual basis. And then...

It doesn't hurt. Quite the opposite. She'd squeezed her eyes shut a bare moment, but then tentatively opens them, to see in gold. Plain brown eyes meet his after a few moments. Relief...not at not being killed. She breathes out...finds this stifled. Realizes that she can't particularly breathe. It doesn't hurt, and her head is staying clear...surreal. Finally, airily... "...is a base of Kaz's," she manages to explain. "Don't need...people hurt again..."

"They won't," he answers, low and guttural. "This is my gift to you. Only you."

The gold brightens, searing in its intensity but still the spell prevents it from blinding her.

Ari's confused...and, for a moment, frightened. The light is...actually, strengthening to her even before the spell's effects, she is a yellow wyvern. She sucks in her breath, tense though it feels wonderful...then suddenly gets it, as the spell burns itself into her own mind and body. Her eyes widen, startled and confused. It's really a good thing that she's quickly losing her ability to speak to the hold on her neck, as it gives her an excuse for being at a loss for words.

His grip starts to loosen once he realizes that the spell has been transferred. He doesn't smile. Doesn't look away.

And before even he knows it's coming, Menayen is on his back, biting his ear and tazing his neck. The now-black-clad terrorist jerks away from Ariella, spell still ingering before any electricity can hurt her, and tries to ram himself and Menayen into a wall to get the little bastard off him.

Ari stiffens. "Kaz, wait...!"

That much weight, with their size, can do damage. Felina--standing now--takes one quick step, vanishes. Menayen and Rasputin will find themselves jerked apart psionically about now, and another feline between them...Rasputin finds the solid wall he'd been after in form of a five foot kitty-creature. Menayen she catches.

Ari, meanwhile, rushes to Rasputin's side, concerned. Taser in the neck is unpleasant.

"Thanks for defense, Menayen," she notes, softly. "I don't believe he was trying to harm either of us, either time, though I'm sure it looked that that way. It may be in everyone's best interests to talk things out, first, since all of you have very different ideas about what's going on here."

The little kitty's eyes are wide, pupils dilated. He's in full attack mode, and not really listening to Felina.

Rasputin, on the other hand, merely shakes his head a little and straightens up, quiet, brimming with a sort of quiet, bubbling energy that Felina may very well notice to be Moornish. In a way.

Oh, she certainly does. Moorn is on her thoughts more hours of the day she'd care to admit, these days.

Still, she looks over to Kaz. "Menayen. Please...I'm not sure what's going on here and haven't delved into all your relationships, but there must be a better way."

After a hesitation--a substantial one--Rasputin may feel tentative fingers lit in gold covering the taser burn on the back of his neck.

He doesn't move, though his muscles do jerk as though instinct begs them to. The burn sizzles away.

Menayen, shaking with a rage he can't quite explain, finally hears her. He steps away.

"Ariella can handle this, I think," he notes. "I'm going to leave now. Ari you can have my base, if you want it. Sin will be in charge of all my things, but I'm sure she won't mind."

Rasputin gazes at him, thoughtfully. What a strange little creature.

Felina's brow creases a bit, concerned. "Menayen...would you please consider coming to Wu Yuan with me awhile? I know Mara-kuru would be thrilled to have you."

He blinks. It occurs to him to wonder why no one ever came to see him before. Came to save him before.

"Sure," he nods. "As long as I can still go to heaven."

Felina smiles a bit, and nods. "Of course. But we'd love to have our turn awhile. Just let me know when."

He nods.

"If this heartwarming passion play is done," Rasputin quite suddenly growls, "I hope someone will tell me why I awoke in a tube."

"You died," Ari notes, quietly and concisely. A little inflection, maybe, but not too much. "Kaz brought you back."

"Why?" The question is less than accusative, more curious.

"I had questions. I'm not convinced I care anymore, though. Ariella can ask." Menayen looks at her. "If she wants. If not, you're free to do whatever. Just stop killing people."

Rasputin's expression remains cold.

Ari looks aside, holding one of her arms.

Felina, meanwhile, nods inwardly. She needs to get Menayen on the road away from a nervous breakdown, now. Goodness knows she's been down that route enough times. For a pregnancy, his vampire friend can wait. After a few moments, she looks from Menayen over to Rasputin. "You I'm actually slightly interested in," she notes, just softly. "I'll probably be along to speak with you at some point when you have time, since you have questions anyway."

And she looks back to Kaz, done with that. "Feels a bit like you're ready to now, then?" She sets a hand on his shoulder.

He almost shrinks back.

"Sure," he nods. It's quiet.

Rasputin, for his part, could not be any more indifferent to Felina at the moment. His mind is 100% on Ariella. He does indeed have questions.

And with that, Felina and Menayen are simply gone, to Wu Yuan.

Ari breathes out. It's just...quiet, in the room, except the assorted little sounds machinery. Finally..."that was odd," she observes quietly.

"It was." Rasputin flexes his fingers, relaxes them. "Should you explain yourself, or must I ask, Ariella?"

Ari's eyes travel down and aside. "Which part?" She inquires after a moment.

Rasputin leans against the table. Folds his arms, which look somehow stronger than before. The outfit emphasizes things.

"Let's begin with getting me killed and go from there," he suggests. Quiet, but still, menacing. It occurs to him that he knows no other way to speak.

Ari's eyes stay down at first. Thinking. Of course he was going to ask. She isnt going to try to shirk the question...it wouldn't be honorable, or anything less than absolute cowardice. But it's going to be damned uncomfortable. Silent. Finally, softly...

"I would never betray Julen. Wouldn't want to. Its government has problems, tiers of leadership do. Turning on them, for the sake of the greater nation, is one thing, but...different than working against Julen itself." She looks up. "I really did want to help you. I wanted to find a reconciliation between your ideas and the wellbeing of the nation. But the government that I have trouble with isn't the same as the soldiers beneath it. They're my peers, and my comrades. With so many of them already down, dead and dying, passing them in the hallways..." she closes her eyes against the memory. "I couldn't do it. Watch more of them die, and stand idly by. Even as they were restraining me, I've known those people for years. They were shot right off of my shoulders and...I couldn't let it finish. It wasn't my intention for you to die. But I had to protect the last one."

He listens, unmoving, cold as if frozen in place. He blinks twice during her entire explanation.

He waits two seconds after she starts talking, knowing that three is the discomfort cutoff and she might start talking again.

"You're forgiven. Whether you needed to be or not."

Ari looks up to meet his eyes at this. Nods a bit, after a few moments, and swallows the lump in her throat. "Thank you." Breathes out. Looks at something else again. "I do have a question..." looks back to him. "When you shot those two soldiers holding me. Were defending me, or were they next in line, in a systematic sweep?"

"Both," he's quick to answer. "The latter satisfies the former, though. Once you agreed to support my cause, your life became more valuable than anyone else's."

Ari nods a bit. She had to know. It certainly didn't help to sate the guilt, but she'd wanted to know. Quiet.

"So...assuming we really are free to leave...what now? I was dismissed from service, by the way."

"I'm sorry to hear that." And he is. "I'll go back to what I was doing. It needs done. That is, after I find out where I am." Rasputin glances around. "Where are we?"

"Underneath Antarctica." In a different mood, it would be funny.

"Just us?" Quieter, less menacing this time.

"I'm not sure..." Ari admits. Does note the changed tone, to some relief. She's figuring out that Rasputin doesn't necessarily actually mean harm with his voice, and reacts accordingly, but it's still nice. "Sin is here somewhere. Kaz didn't mention anyone else, and he's not noted to have any non-robotic underlings other than Sin in our intelligence. So...not a sure thing, but it's probable."

He nods, eyes cloudy with thought. "Is there food here? Supplies? Transport? Beds?"

"I would assume 'yes' on all counts. Food and transport I can confirm."

"Then we should set back up here. For now. It looks like there is ample in the way of technology. Probably labs, research materials as well." If he was housed in a tube, anyway. He stands again. "What do you plan to do, now that you are discharged?"

Ari had nodded to the first bit. It's a good idea. The last part, she considers quietly. "I'm really not sure. I was considering finding a worthwhile convent."

"An enormous waste of a good life, that," he answers, with absolutely certainty.

Ari blinks, and tilts her head. After a few moments, can't help the edge of her lips that twitches up, amused at the sheer bluntness of it. "Oh? Why do you say that?"

"You could do worlds more good out in the world. Holing up in a convent is not solving problems. It's hiding from them." He's quiet again. "If you still want to, though, you should go and live first. See the world. Love someone. Break the law somewhere. That is exactly what I am going to do... I died, afterall. I know very well how quickly it can all end."

She smiles a little at this. "May I ask where you're planning to go?"

"Dublin, first. Then I'll head back to Cape Town and check into my affairs there."

Ari looks down. Silent. And back up, after a pause. "May I go with you?"

The terrorist had half-expected her to ask. She's a person without a purpose without the military, that much is clear. 

"Of course," he answers, half-surprising himself.

Ari smiles a bit...though she doesn't have any idea what the hell she's doing. It's a whim. She couldn't justify it with a gun to her face. But...it works. She nods once. "Thank you." And just leaves it at that. He does seem to appreciate brevity, which suits her fine.

She looks up when the panther-sized tabby cat wanders back in.

It yawns an enormous, giant-teeth yawn. The creature trots toward Ariella, then, and attempts to push its head against her legs for pets.

This, of course, leads to a wyvern just barly catching her balance in time to not careen to the floor. "Sheesh..." She pets the cat. "I suppose Sin will be taking care of you now. I'd take you, but you're not exactly inconspicuous."

The cat purrs, which sounds like a radiator bubbling off.

"Cape Town will be dangerous, you know, and we're not exactly inconspicuous ourselves," Rasputin points out.

Ari raises an eyebrow incredulously at this as she scratches behind sizeable ears. "You single-handedly eliminated an entire special forces division. In seven minutes."

"I had numerous advantages. Shadows, knowledge of the terrain." He's quiet again. "How do we get out of here?"

"Well, the...vehicle, we arrived in, was this way." Ari scritches the cat one last time--she loves animals--and heads off that way.

The cat follows her. Naturally, pets are available.

The spacecraft thing is still there; of course, there's no way for either of them to fit in the front. Rasputin looks inside, wiggles the seat. Fiddles with it; a latch pops, and the seat loosens.

"Huh," he muses, and repeats this on the other side. The seat comes out easily in his hands. They could fit inside, provided one was willing to sit in the others' lap to Dublin.

"...Huh." Ari repeats. Cheeks are the slightest bit red as she figures this out. Hopes she's missing something. There's no way either of their senses of pragmatism would allow them to take two trips. It's impractical on a thousand levels. "So...how would this work, exactly...?"

Rasputin looks at the seat. "I don't mind if you don't," he says, not cold, not quite amused, but definitely not displeased.

Ariella finally snickers after a few moments, cheeks still holding that red. "...It's the only practical way," she admits. "Alright. But you first. You'd crush me." She chuckles...pets the cat at a headbutt. "Yes, yes...you take care, as well."

The cat purrs again, and sits down, meowing once before curling up and tucking its head to nap.

Rasputin climbs into the craft. "No facilities, food or water. I take it this craft moves faster than the average plane?"

"Yes." Ari withholds the blush as best she can as she steps in after him, setting each foot between his, and seating herself as platonically as possible in the terrorist's lap. Pretending it isn't a big deal, though that accursed redness gives it away. "It occurs to me that it was nerve-wracking even with someone who knows it well piloting it...may be problematic." She points at a few things. "He used these in ignition, these while stopping, and this the most in transit."

Rasputin reaches past her, apparently perfectly in control. He lays his hand over it, and the ring on his pinky finger begins to flash, the green stone lighting up. Ariella may not see it unless she turns around, but his eyes blink green as well.

"I can fly it," he says, his voice soft near her earfin.

Ari blinks. She doesn't miss the light...and is interested. But she doesn't pry. She's mostly grateful that her now full-blown blush is hidden by the angle, at his voice beside her ear. He has a very attractive voice when it doesn't sound like it's saying "I eat your heart now," and it just doesn't help matter. "Reassuring," she nods. "What about any exit protocols? Would we need to ask Sin about the doors?" She asks, becuase she's sure Rasputin has some sort of odd connection going on here.

"No, I have them," he says again, a little softer. "I have no idea where we're going to land, but..." the light blinks. "Ah. Yes I do. We're going to Dublin, then." He leans up a little farther, presses a button. "Are you uncomfortable?" he asks, millimeters from her ear.

"A little. I'll be fine," she admits, honestly. That light again. Pause. She wants to ask...and, finally, doesn't. In her career--considering that she met him saying she was Interpol--she's certainly known to be the sneaky, information-milking sort of agent. Not asking, she knows, is reasonably substantial gesture of truce.

The hatch of the craft lowers and seals shut. A hiss of oxygen floods the interior, and the hangar goes dark. The cockpit lights up. The ship eases up, into the air.

If Ariella's looking outside, she may see that the kitty is getting Sin-pets.

She does glance that way...but only as they begin to move. She can't crane her neck that far without staring uncomfortably at the fellow behind her, so she looks up instead. At least Sin seems to have given the okay.

The craft rises. Shoots down the hanger bay and bursts through a thin layer of snow, streaming into the sky, en route to Dublin; it's on Auto-pilot.

Rasputin leans back, relaxing. Quiet, despite the turmoil.

"Are you alright?" he asks, quickly. He's worried, despite himself. Especially for a person of her religious conviction, this is a difficult position. 

After a few moments, though, a smile does touch the edges of her lips, amused. How odd, coming from someone like him. It's the second time he's asked in under a minute. She breathes out. "Now that we're safely in the air, much more so." Of course it isn't her concern. But still true.

He nods. Shifts a little bit.

"Do you drink, Ariella?" He says her name almost as if saying it is as much fun as whatever point he's trying to make.

The inflection amuses her a bit, but she nods. "A bit, yes. It's helpful in this profession." She chuckles a bit. "And you?"

"Occasionally. I ask because we are going to Dublin." Quiet again. "Thank you for killing me, Ariella." And it's sincere.

She trails off at this, considering. She knows he's sincere, somehow. She knows. ...But she doesn't know why. "...Why would you say that?" she inquires, softly.

"Even in the pursuit of noble deeds," Rasputin answers, "sometimes people make mistakes. Lose sight of important things."

Ari considers this, quietly. It's quiet for a couple of minutes, actually, as they fly. Finally... "You're welcome." Still quiet, of course, but she took her time to be sure and honest in the answer.

The landscape below them changes. Ice to water; the display says it's a two-hour trip from here.

"Relax, Ariella. Sleep; we'll be here a while yet," Rasputin offers. Then, "you can trust me."

Another pause.

"...I know."

It's awhile before Ari dozes off. She isn't trying, really...but she's very tired. Finally, without realizing, she's leaning back against Rasputin and the wall of the craft, lightly asleep.

Rasputin moves a little so her head is cradled a little more comfortably. His hands are golden now; it isn't Adelisa's spell. This spell could affect her for years and never addict her, never enslave her. Unless he wanted to.

The ride goes, in silence.

In a few hours, he's asleep, as well, his head leaning gently against hers. His is the silent sleep of death, calm, absolute.

It's just a tiny jerk that denotes Ari's awakening. She never really managed to get rid of it, though she doesn't make a sound. The vehicle's beeping at them. Mm...are we here...?

The display reads 'location aquired' in large blue letters. Rasputin is still asleep; theyre' dropping slowly toward the ground, an empty lot. It's almost dark out.

Ari yawns softly...considers. She doesn't know the landing procedures. Can probably figure them out if it's even necessary, but he almost assuredly can. She doesn't really want to wake him up--can't help a small smile at seeing him asleep--but then, there's no sense in risking it.

Pokes him gently. "Hey." Waits. "I'm not sure on the landing systems."

His eyes open, and for just one second, just a breath, his tired eyes brim, brim with sadness, despair, an absolute hopeless look.

And it's gone, just as quickly. He looks at her, realizes how close they are, and straightens a little.

He reaches past her again, and the light blinks on his ring.

Ari blinks slowly. What on earth was that...? It intrigues her and...concerns her. She shouldn't be worried about this guy, but she is. She's quiet, as they begin to set down. Finally... "Are you all right?"

"Of course," he quietly assures her, this as the ship lands. "Are you?"

"Of course." She looks out the window. "So what are we going to do with this toy?" Neither of them would want a military finding it. Any military. Upsets things.

"It will conceal itself," he assures her, eyes blinking green again. Looks at her. "Did you sleep enough...? Shall we find a room for you?"

"Mm...I'm not sure. It depends on the day's tasks, how alert I should be." Ari smiles. She's a special agent, after all, or was.

"Dublin is for revel. We're here to drink and enjoy ourselves." Quiet again. "And I want to take you out."

Ari's taken aback at this. Thinks quietly. "I think, then," she notes, smiling a bit, "I'd like to take some more sleep first, then, if it's all right." It merits her full attention, and being awake for.

"Of course." The hatch pops open. Rasputin isn't certain he wanted that, but it's open. They're in the lot still, but right next to a street; two pubs and a hotel are nearby.The ship apparently knew where to go.

Ari rises carefully, careful of both leaning on her companion and hurting him, and her legs being asleep or any such. She seems completely at ease as she glances around to step out of the craft...though Rasputin may notice a brief, critical glint as she scans. Ari is a person who manages to seem all sugar and naivety, but she's a long-hardened special agent. Satisfied, she jumps down.

Rasputin pulls himself out of the craft, landing easily. Yes, he had noticed; he knows better than to underestimate her now, knows she's very good and very smart.

"Across the street is the Fairmark Inn. A friend owns it; he will put us up for the night and provide us currency. Would you go get us a table?"

"Certainly. Is there a name I should giive, or is it simply very open and public?" She smiles.

"It is public. I will join you in a moment, once I've made certain the ship is hidden." Rasputin smiles at her a little. Briefly, but a little.

She returns it, and then heads off that way.

Rasputin turns to work on the ship, mostly pleased with himself, and how things are going.

The Fairmark Inn stands on the other side of a sparsely populated street. It's a cool, pleasant Irish day, perhaps boasting oncoming rain.