A grand, city, the peak of Grimoire's civilization. At its core it is little more than a number of high-tech villages (for the continent) in close proximity, connected to a single aristocratic government center: the palace of a wizardess, the Grand Mother Tourmaline. The buildings seem mostly white to gold in color and Arabian in form, and the citizens very often shorten their town's name to Osz.

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Grimoire
Hubris
Hamartia

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"Over there is the gate," Red intones as the trio emerges before the city, beset on all sides by nature and the scent of hoof and herd. A gaggle of children have set up a shop by the gate, holding up lollipops and shouting about steel coins. "I can't go in right now. Grandmother told me to wait by the doors, so... to get to her palace, you follow..."

"If you say yellow brick road, I swear to God..." Revilier cuts her off, eyeing the gold-colored bricks at their feet.

"And now," Yin purrs at him, "you see why I was a basket case when you first talked to me earlier. Hey...is there somewhere we can get some clothes for him between here and there?"

"It's pretty metropolitan," Red nods, and it occurs to Revilier that she shouldn't know a word like that. "You can find clothing stores inside. You'll look like a local yokel, though."

"Beats local Chippendale's star. Alright. Thanks, Red, I'm sure we'll see you later. Shall we, Revilier?"

The general nods. "Thank you for your help," he says, to which Red bows a bit.

"Thank you for the peep show. Next time, put a leash on that thing." And she turns to head off to her designated 'wait here' place.

Meanwhile, Revilier takes the initiative to walk towards and through the gate.

"This place is magnificent," he observes, gazing over a vast bazaar-style shopping arcade. "For ancient Arabia."

"Were the circumstances different, it would fall solidly into the 'really cool' category." Yin nods a bit. "We can stop wherever looks good for some clothes for you. The places out...well, whatever direction that was...accepted precious metal as tender, and I grabbed all of the Draconic currency I had on hand to come back, so we should be okay." Grins at him sidelong. "Then you can stop clinging to the knot in that blanket for dear life."

He nods. "I just want to be done with this, and cling to you for a while. Hey, that one looks reasonable.' The general turns toward a smaller shop, helmed by what looks by all rights to be a humanesque robot clad in silver. Pants straight out of 'aladdin' and embroidered vests lie for sale, along with distinctly whorish dancing costumes for men and women. A selection of shotel lie on the walls, and he looks away from them. Damn Hook.

Yin's right with him on this one...eyes away from the weapon wall. Tilts her head, and pulls a sky-blue dancing outfit from the rack a little bit. Grins at him, holding this partly over herself. "What do you think?" She's joking, though it is fairly pretty.

He looks her over, not really aware that she's joking-- he's still in lala world, for the most part. "I think it doesn't deserve you," he admits, "but you look stellar in blue."

She smiles at him, puts it back, and glances around, taking his arm gently. "So, what are we thinking for you, General Ali Baba?"

"Black foofy pants and a jade vest sound good?" He covers her hand with his. "You're the one who has to look at me."

Her eyes soften. "Never a chore," she assure. "That sounds just fine. You have the chest for it, after all." Smiles.

He doesn't smile back. Just moves to hug her, to release some of the madness that's still kicking him from every angle, to remind himself that she's real amidst this illusion.

Yin closes her eyes...hugs him gently, just holds him, a gentle hand setting to the back of his hair while the other wraps around his back. Yeah. He's having quite the day.

She's quiet at first. After a fairly long embrace, softly... "I really don't understand what's going on. Any of this. But we'll get through it, you and I. We did manage to save the world once. This is kid stuff." Holds him a little more tightly. "And you've got me as long as you want me. We'll hold onto each other."

"Oil?" The robot asks after a few moments. It beeps, its telescopic eyes whirring as if too zoom.

Yin's mouth twitches. "And I believe that's the tin man."

"No, no," the robot shakes its head. Reaches under the counter for a bottle. "Oil. For you two."

Yin turns quite red at this, skin warm for her. "Erm. No, that's quite all right, but thank you kindly." Leans back grudgingly, though her arm remains around Revilier's waist. "Just some clothes."

"Pity," the robot seems to sigh. Revilier's just concentrating on that warmth, amplified as it is after the powder. 

"Quickly," he adds, a little red himself. "Those and those." 

"Payment please," the robot chirps, holding out a hand.

"How much are they?" Yin inquires as she slips her bag from her shoulder.

"An ounce of silver ought to cover it," the robot nods. "Or so."

Yin nods. "Can do." Fishes through, and retrieves two silver coins. Holds these out to the robot, and smiles. "Thank you very much. Is there somewhere in here to change?"

"I have a stall here." The robot gestures toward's a makeshit room built of thatching and reeds.

Revilier takes the clothing. Looks at Yin. "Coming?"

Yin thanks the robot, and looks to Revilier. Smiles a bit, and nods. "If you don't mind." She's feeling clingy. This is all quite weird and, yes, scary, and she doesn't particularly feel like being separated from him even for a minute.

"Of course not." And he needs her presence more than he'll admit, anyway. With a nod to the robot, the general heads towards the changing room and, waiting for Yin, closes the surprisingly sturdy door behind.

Inside, he lays out the new clothes. Looks at them for a moment, and then at her. Feels hesitant somehow.

Yin, for her part, sits on bench, looking down. Breathes out slowly. Ugh. Feels good to be sitting. Is still a few moments, before feeling Revilier's eyes, and looks up. Forces a smile. "Is everything okay? I...can head back out, if you prefer." With the succubus...she knows it's a possibility.

"No, no. Please don't." He undoes the knot and hands the blanket toward Yin, eyes finding hers. "I need you near me, right now."

She smiles a bit. Nods. Takes the blanket as her smile fades, and sets to folding it. "Nice coincidence, that. I think you're the only thing keeping me sane around here." Lips twitch. Looks up. "I can return the favor, just remember."

"I can't forget."

Revilier slides into the pants, marvelling at how well they actually fit. Smiles at her - she's such a sweet thing for a hardcore bitch when she wants to be - and quickly tosses off his tattered shirt in favor of the vest. It's pretty stiff in the back, almost like kevlar, oddly enough. Still, it fits well, and the green compliments his hair color nicely.

"So, how is it?"

"It's fun. Exotic." Smiles. Closes her bag, blanket deposited, and stands. "It looks fantastic with your eyes."

"It certainly does." 

Revilier looks up at that, gazing angrily at the door. "Fuck off, pal," he growls at the man's voice flowing through the door. "Be out in a second."

"Yes, I'm sure," the man chuckles, much closer this time. As if behind Revilier's shoulder. A dusky redheaded man fades into sight, leaning calmly against the dressing room wall, idly toying with the straps of a dancing outfit similiar to the blue one outside.

His eyes, green as verdigris, peer into Yin's. "Hello."

Her stance immediately stiffens to defensive, fangs unconsciously baring the slightest bit. A hand finds Revilier's wrist lest he be snatched awy from her again, the infuriating kidnapping of earlier still burning in her mind. "Well. I'd say it's been while. Except it's been maybe three hours."

"It's not much of a meeting through a door. May I introduce myself to a lady?" He smiles a bit, the very same sticky-sweet smile Trilene wears.

Revilier looks at Yin's hand. "Do you see someone I don't?" he asks, looking around.

Yin glances up to her lover. Nods once, and looks back to the demon. "Be my guest."

The green eyed fellow bows a very Arabic bow, an oddly fitting one given the circumstances. "I am Rhoul. I know you've met my sister Trilene already, and want to apologize for her behavior. She is not a giver."

Yin's face darkens a touch at the mention of the name. The gruesome scene, their bodies jerking against the electricity as that whore forced herself on her dear Revilier, flashes through her mind unbidden. It will no doubt haunt her nightmares for quite awhile. "I would say not, no. Excuse me if I'm abrupt, but what's your purpose in being here right now?"

Revilier looks around. "I don't hear a voice, Yin. We should go."

"Oh," Rhoul chuckles, stepping forward. "I am a giver." Another step, gazing at them, and vanishes. "You'll like it."

Yin stiffens. "He was here. Now I don't see him. Yeah, we should go. I'll tell you as we walk." Shoulders her bag tensely.

Revilier steps aside, gathering his old clothes and bag. Faces Yin, and is about to take a step when Rhoul reappears behind him. The incubus's arms wrap around his chest and waist. The general pauses, blinking. "Yin?" Of course he can't see Rhoul at all.

Her eyes widen a touch, hands snapping out to grab his arms nd try to pull him away, jumping forward to push Rhoul off the wyvern. "That's not me."

"Oh," Rhoul answers for Revilier, as Yin's hands pass through him, "I know." The incubus's hand slides down the general's taught stomach, to a squirming reaction. Rhoul's strength is simply too much for him to break away from.

Slowly, the dark-nailed fingertips of the incubus disappear beneath Revilier's new pants. The general's eyes go wide, then glaze a little. "Yin...!"

"It wasn't me!" she insists, red as hell. "You are such an asshole," she hisses to the air behind him. Not to mention having too much fun with her boyfriend.

"Shhh... there is a means to every end," Rhoul whispers, eyes flashing as he and the now-gasping general begin to rise from the ground. With a fluid motion he shoves the new pants down enough that gravity begins to undress Revilier, revealing the slim musculature of a soldier and the gentle hand of an incubus wrapped around him. "Don't pretend that you do not enjoy what you see."

A draconic growl begins to build in Yin's throat as she catches his pnts, trying to get them back up. "I don't. Revilier's been through way too much already today. What's it going to take to convince you guys to just go away and leave us alone?"

"Shhh... look." Rhoul leans close to Revilier's neck, enough that the general shivers involuntarily from the warmth of his breath. "You are trying to find a way out of giving Alouette to us. See. He likes this." Demon lips fall to Revilier's shoulder, kissing gently, eyes on Yin as his hand begins to move back and slowly forth.

The dragoon is trembling in anger by now, but she doesn't know wht to do about it. She can't touch these guys in this astral-esque form. "We're more or less stranded here. We can't even reach her. Your sister's got our main contact with the outside world and Alouette's defense coordinator wrapped around her little finger somehow, and presumably Alouette right with her. What the hell do we even have to do with it at this point?"

Rhoul rises another few inches into the air with Revilier, kissing along the general's hard shoulder and up his neck, squeezing him a little harder. "You must not interfere any more," he whispers, the tip of his tongue flicking at Revilier's neck. "Pleasures are our goal, Yin." 

Revilier's hips jolt a little, his head leaning back against Rhoul's shoulder whether he knows it or not.

Yin's fangs are bared fully by now. What can she do...? She's never felt so helpless in her life as today. "You almost had me going on the idea until my lover almost died in n electric chair. This is some demented shit going down."

"Please," Rhoul almost snaps, pulling his lips away from Revilier's neck. "We are not killers. Trilene simply enjoys dominating her lovers. Come on then. Can you tell me you do not want pleasure in your life?" His free hand reaches up, gently turning Revilier's head. Looks at his lips, and back to Yin.

"I have that. Without you. Let him go."

"I rather like him," Rhoul argues, voice pouring smooth like rich, warm oil. "I may keep him, unless you are willing to share."

The demon turns his head, and kisses Revilier full on the lips. Both men's eyes close firmly -- Revilire has no idea what's going on, but the powder's effects will not let him pull away from such ridiculously intense sensation. His hips buck, shoulders tense and jerk as he reaches for a lover that, to him, isn't there at all.

Yin's fangs are thoroughly bared. She...doesn't know what to do. What to think. Bites her tongue. Another threat, another demand...and he could take Revilier away from her again. Hurt him...give him back to Trilene, maybe, who could kill him. Grits her teeth, and is silent.

Abruptly, Rhoul pulls his lips and tongue from Revilier's mouth to the tune of a wet pop and shoves the general away, letting him float harmlessly to the ground. Revilier looks around as though confused, completely lost, breathing hard and still fully aroused.

Rhoul gently dabs his lip with a sleeve. "Delicious. Forgive me, Yin, I simply couldn't resist." The dancing outfit does little to hide his own enjoyment of this bizarre session.

Yin pays the demon no attention for the moment, or at least doesn't respond...helps Revilier to the ground, ready to steady him, eyes betraying deep concern despite herself. She's worried that there could be some ulterior motive here...she doesn't know. Doesn't understand demons, so her imagination races. Could this have established some hold over the general? Poke him with a poison somewhere?

He does need her to lean upon. An attentive Yin might see traces of powder rubbed into Revilier's skin, kissed into his lips. The general gazes at her, glassy eyed. "Yin... what happened...?"

Rhoul vanishes in a wink, just as before. "Revilier is getting a taste of what's in store for Alouette," his voice calls. "Transformation. To become pure pleasure."

"'Transformation? What are you talking about?"

But there's no answer. Only Revilier's frustrated, half-satisfied sighs of breath.

Yin sighs quietly. Looks back to the general after few moments. Has spotted the powder. Great. Now what? Full arousal isn't something that just goes away for a male. Takes his shoulders gently. "REvilier...? Are you okay?"

He jerks a little at her touch. Looks at her as if awakening from an anesthetized sleep. "I'm okay," he growls low, looking into her eyes. "That was better than the last one, but if this is going to keep happening I want a camera." He doesn't know Rhoul was male, either.

And Yin's not telling. At least, not until much later when it's an amusing memory. Smiles just a little...it's very weak. "Yeah." Brushes his hair aside gently. "Um. Need minute...?"

He shakes his head. Looks down. "Wow..." he laughs. "Sorry..." but his hands find her shoulders, holding on tightly.

Her lips twitch towards a smile. It fades almost instantly, though. She closes her eyes, and is grateful to stand securely in his arms. Clings to his chest, leaning her face against it after a few moments' hesitation. "I'm afraid for you," she finally murmurs quietly.

His arms encircle her, lips explore her hair. "Don't be," he whispers, "they can't hurt us." He's not sure why, but the irrational confidence he feels in this spills into his voice.

She can't smile, though she desperately wants to. Nods a little. She's quiet. Still. His confidence helps. Smiles faintly. Nods once more.

Revilier watches her nod, searching her features. Smiles as well, and moves, without direct thought, to kiss her, the powder still gently glistening on his lips.

She's a bit hesitant, as the picture of him with the demon just now burns to the front of thoughts. But...it's Revilier. And she loves him. Blushes a touch, and kisses softly.

He holds her in it for only a moment, some rational streak in his mind telling him he oughtn't to be so comfortable right now.  When their lips separate, he whispers against her ear.

"May I have my pants back? The sensation is ruining my sense of decorum."

She grins just a little, expression softening. Feels foolish to have ever doubted him. Sure, he's extremely aroused and demon did it, but...he just loves her. Nods. "Yeah." Holds them up. "It...hm. Isn't exactly going to leave this to the imgination."

He takes them, and begins to slide into them. "You're an ice dragoon. You can fix this." Pauses. "And I wonder if I should be saying this."

Eyes widen a touch, before the dragon-vampire can't withhold a coughing laugh behind a hand. "Well, no, you shouldn't." Snickers, truly amused for the first time since all of this had started. "Are you sure about this?"

"No. But I don't want to walk out there looking like a flagpole, and I'd like to leave now." Revilier closes his eyes.

Yin smiles a bit, reassuringly. Not that it matters with his eyes closed. "Don't worry. It's not like I have to give you frostbite or any such. Cold shower coming up."

Blinks as she sets her hands on the fronts of his thighs. "Down."

This as a frozen mist, exactly the same thing she's been employing against the powder, crystallizes in his pants.

"... shit!" His hands tighten on her shoulders, but it has the desired effect in short order.

The vampiress is quick to wrap her arms around him, petting his back gently to steady him....though a stray jolt of the shoulders betrays how hard she's trying not to laugh.

"This isn't fair," she murmurs mirthfully. "I am so torn between being comforting and giggling like a mischevious schoolgirl."

Revilier just pulls the pants the rest of the way up. Yup. Pride's shot to hell.

"Just hug me. We'll figure it out later."

Just then, Yin's communicator beeps so softly only she can hear it.

"... god damn dirt merchant. Yin? Are you there?" Kaz's frazzled voice purrs.

She's in the middle of hugging Revilier tightly...eyes widen a touch. Touches the communicator at her ear to unmute. "Kaz? That you?"

The general reluctantly lets her go, watching and listening.

"Yeah. Stupid crazy bitch tried to mess with my head!"

"I think those were about the same terms we applied, yeah. Sounds like she succeeded, though. Are you all right now? Is Alou?"

"Alou's exhausted. The demon woman was all over her. I couldn't do anything, I'm sorry, I couldn't. But Sxavior chased her away."

"I'm just relieved you still have her...Sxavior? Who the hell's Sxavior?"

"Petrovic's demonologist. He's got weapons that'll harm those astral bodies of theirs. In fact, I'm sending you one. Is everything alright with you?"

This as a hilt and handle of a sword materialize on the ground just in front of Yin. A silver-looking device with three disc-shaped jewels inside, red, white, and blue, it looks more like an ornate chalice than anything else.

"I think so. We both need rest, but I think we may be near a spot we can do that, and we lost the giant sickle-weilding monster thing. That's a perk." Yin cocks an eyebrow. Takes the hilt carefully, examining it. "So. Um. Forget to send the blade, or what's the story here?"

"There's a button on the handle. See those four marks? The top part twists. When the thing is on, it... well, you should see for yourself. But it's a sword, and you twist the top part to change settings- three settings and an empty one. That's the jewels. I think they're elemental blades. I think this is some serious voodoo shit."

"Took the words right out of my mouth. Give me a funky security system and a gun any day." Yin holds the hilt so that the "blade" should extend upward, pokes for the loose part, and twists.

Nothing happens.

"I think you have to push the button," revilier notes, looking at the bottom of the handle.

"Ah. Check." Smiles a bit at him, and pushes the button.

A sizzle and whirr just barely precedes a column of flames shooting four feet from the base of the sword, twirling like a braid of burning hair and holding shape as if wrapped in something. Revilier hops out of the way, wide-eyed.

Yin blinks. The only expression change otherwise is a slightly arched eyebrow. "That is pretty hardcore." Twists.

The flames die out, replaced in an instant by a jagged column of ice, glowing softly baby blue at the edges.

Slight smirk. "Now that's more my style. Thank Sxavior for me, I'm sure this will come in handy." Another twist. 

The ice crumbles into glowing dust. At first nothing seems to happen-- a shaft of pale white light flows from the projector. Then, a series of globulous-looking white orbs of light begin to flow along its length.

Head tilts. "What's your vote on what this one is, Revilier? Light?"

"I don't know." Revilier tosses a scrap of clothing at the blade, watches it fall through it-- with the edges mended.

"Trippy." Yin nods. "We're supposed to be going to see...sorry...the Wizardess of Oz about now, so it's possible that will turn up leads on what's going on. On the other hand, more time here means more danger. REvilier? What do you think?"

"If she knows something, that's better than going back and waiting. We're here, anyway." Revilier's dressed and ready to go. And eager to kick the crap out of some demons, if the opportunity arrives.

Yin smiles, and nods. Oh yeah. That's the guy she loves. "I agree. We're not going to just be safe if we head back to the tower, not until this gets disarmed one way or the other. So, we're okay for the moment, Kaz. Just worry about Alou. I'll let you know if something comes up."

"Roger and Steve, safe at first base."

About then, a soft pounding comes through the door. "Is everything okay?" the robot asks.

Yin rolls her eyes a little, Smirking sidelong at Revilier. Oh, yeah. It is not assumed they've been doing something...creative. "Yes, thank you. We'll be right out." Looks fully to her love. "You ready?" She inquires gently. He has had a rattling few hours, after all.

"Fine," he nods.

Outside, the streets have quieted somewhat. The robot is one of only a few vendors left, and the sun hangs low in the sky.

"How long were we in there?" the general asks Yin.

She shakes her head. "I didn't think that long. Maybe there are short days around here?"

"The days here are eight hours long," the robot nods. "Are you going to see Tourmaline?"

"Yes, we are." Yin nods. "Is there anything we should know in such?"

"Sure. Don't make any fat jokes. She'll turn you into a toad."

Yin snickers. "Duly noted. Thank you kindly, sir. Shall we?" This is fairly rhetorical, as she starts off walking. "Back to the...amber masonry street." Snickers.

revilier kicks the brick once. "Damned thing'll be whitewashed if I have say in it."

Along the way, most places are boarded up. T he path boasts good lighting and simple navigation, until one unmarked fork in the road. There stands a quivering man with a sign reading "hints- 1 copper".

Yin raises an eyebrow. "First: what the fuck. Secondly..." glances up either way to see if she can tell which way to go. She can't. Withdraws a copper. Looks at the man. "Which way to the wizardess?"

"1 copper please," he slurs, shrinking back a little.

"You look like half a bitch," Revilier growls, not in the mood for games. "Which fucking way?"

"Left!" he squeaks.

"Hey!" Another man calls, peering out the window. "Don't listen to him. He's a cowardly lyin' bastard."

The general closes his eyes. "God dammit."

Yin sighs. "Let me guess. One always lies, and one always tells the truth."

"This is easy, then," Revilier growls. "Punch one of them, then ask the other which one you just punched."

Yin snickers. "Nevermind. I don't feel like it." Flips the coin onto the man's lap, and turns right just for the heck of it. "Thanks for the help, both."

"Aye!" they call at once.

Right, of course, leads directly to the doorstep of a pub... behind witch stands Tourmaline's palace. Revilier looks at one, and then the other.

"In a place like this, why would anyone want to get hammered?"

"Aren't you a national leader or a pretty dungeons and dragons race with a well stocked liquor cabinet?"

"Why would I need alcohol when I have you to intoxicate me?" He looks at her.

Yin smiles at him. "Aww. Major brownie points, well done!" Takes him arm. Pauses as they start off towards the palace. "Aren't we supposed to skip and sing a jaunty tune about now?"

"Maybe. But I don't feel all that jaunty--"

The general's voice cuts off, head jerking to one side at a flicker of movement in an alley. "We're being followed, I think."

Yin shakes her head a little. "Do you want to pursue it, or just go on until they show themselves or go away on their own? I honestly don't care at this point."

"I'd just as soon continue on as stop," he answers, staring into the dark. "I just want to rest."

The shadow pauses in the darkness, just long enough to hop onto a trash can and sit, watching them with eyes that open into green spheres.

"Hookay." Yin notes, looking ahead again. "I am officially creeped out. Hey, want to start a sporty pool on how long it takes us to lose our minds in fairytale land?"

Revilier holds out his hand for her to take. His eyes glow a serious gray in the streetlight, lips set with meaning.

She starts to smile. Cuts it out. It would be at least partially a lie, though her eyes shine with gratitude. Takes his hand and squeezes it once, and just walks with him.

And he walks, just concentrating on her hand in his.

The shadow follows, green eyes dreaming endlessly all the way up to the gates of Tourmaline's palace.

"I've never seen so many cat statues in one place," revliier notes, gazing down the gallery of feline busts lineing the entry hall. At the hall's culmination a pair of guradian sphinx sit prettily, their pleasantly round faces peering out from the bodies of far from cowardly lions.

It's not something Yin fails to pick up on. "At least they aren't cowardly lions," she quips as they approach the end of the entryway. Glances at the long line of cat statues. She doesn't care for animals.

"Might be troublesome." Revilier stares at the monsters. "I wonder if this is the only way in?"

The sphinx look up. "Yes. Who shall we say has come to call at such late time?"

The dragoon looks up. She's quite used to potentially deadly creatures who are much bigger than she is. "Yin Iejir and Revilier. I'm fairly sure that we're expected."

"Yin is. Revilier is not." one of the beasts glances at a ledger on the wall, giving a nod. "Revilier is not coming until ten to two."

Ugh. Great. So sick of that number. "He and I are sticking together," the dragoon notes. "If he cannot enter earlier than that, then we'll return together then."

"I'm sorry. Yin is not scheduled to arrive at that time." The sphinx pauses. "If you'd like to reserve a spot, please choose a time next month."

"This is ridiculous." Yin shakes her head. "We're going to talk to the same person, presumably about the same thing. Why can't we simply enter together now, when they're time slotted for it? What's the reasoning?"

"Two people simply can't talk to the wizardess at once. It's written."

"I'm thinking we'll skip it then." Looks to Revilier for confirmation on this one.

Revilier glances at her, puzzled.

"We don't really care," the left sphinx explains.

"Not in the least," the right intones.

"Nothing good has come of being separated so far," Yin observes softly, to the wyvern. "I would sooner find some other way to work through this situation than risk isolating ourselves from one another, and have something happen to the other person in the interim." She couldnt' stand to see him get hurt again.

Revilier nods. He'd rather not separate from her, either, but...

"Wait. Don't sphinxes let people pass for answering riddles?" he asks, looking at them.

The sphinxes groan. "I have a riddle for you," says Right.

"What has eight paws and doesn't give a shit?" says Left.

Together, the sound off, counting their paws to eight.

Yin smirks. "I'd like them if we weren't the ones being kept out. Let's just go Revilier. We could use some rest, and can figure this out in the morning."

The general nods. "Alright, love. But if they don't let us through when we come back, I start shooting."

The green eyes open nearby, blink, and move as if their wearer is standing up.

Yin sighs as she takes Revilier's arm and heads back to the entrance. Once they get outside.... "So. Are you going to show yourself eventually, or is stalking just a hobby?"

"Hobby." The voice, a cool, flowing man's, comes from somewhere away from the eyes. "I'm helping you."

"Well, appreciated, I'm sure. Care to expound?" Yin's voice is perfectly conversational, though directed to the air ahead.

"There are demons swarming you. I'm keeping them away." The eyes blink. "That's what scarecrows do."

"Demons?" Yin's face doesn't change...but only because she tells it not to. This she takes seriously. "What kind of demons?"

"The kind that stalk you until you fall asleep and then invade your dreams." The scarecrow's eyes move up and down, nodding.

"I see..." The dragoon considers this. Glances to Revilier, eyes confused. As exhausted as she is...back to the scarecrow. "Well. Damn. I guess sleep isn't an option, then." A part of her basic survival kits includes a methamphetamine variant, much like she'd been existing on during the sleeper cell fiasco.

"Not so," says the scarecrow, who enters the light just enough to show off the fact that he, too, is a robot. "You may be able to fight them in your dreams, better than in the world. It's just a matter of being in the right place-- Tourmaline's palace is many things, but a good environment for protecting the mind it is not. Too much sorcery there."

Yin nods slowly. Damn. Damn damn. She'd so been anticipating a much-needed, quietly restful sleep in her lover's arms. "What is a good place?"

"A place where the mind and body separate the most. The closer your consciousness is tied to your physical self, the harder it is to control and defend yourself. Religious structures are good for this."

Pauses. Yin doesn't know anything about any of this. Has no idea how to gauge whether this creature is telling the truth or whether none of this makes any sense. Glances up to Revilier. Come on, you've been around the block a couple more times than me. Please tell me you know anything about this?

The general had kept his thoughts to himself for a reason. He's really not that familiar with any of this stuff.

"Well... people talk about spiritual connections in church. But I always thought you'd have to a believer." He really doesn't know what to make of it.

"Valid point..." Yin glances to the "scarecrow." "So. Is it a problem that we're not religious?"

"No. It's not the faith, but the tranquility." Scarecrow blinks again. "There is a church nearby, next to the bazaar." Blinks again, but the eyes don't open back. Only darkness remains.

Yin is quiet for a few moments, before she finally looks up to Revilier. "What do you think...?"

"Worth a shot. If not, we might get to catch a nap at the church."

She smiles a bit. Nods. Looks back to the scarecrow, and bows her head a little. "All right. Thank you for your help. Can you show us this church, if it's not too much trouble?"

There's no answer.

Revilier stops walking next to a post box, looking around. "Scarecrow?" 

Not a sound.

"I hate this fucking place," the general growls.

Yin sighs quietly, the hand he's not holding wrapping around herself. "Right with you there. Let's get going...if nothing drastic happens in the process, everything will seem easier once we've had some sleep." Looks up to him. "Especially you, who should rightfully be in a hospital bed." Releases his hand to wrap around his waist gently as they walk, concerned.

"I'm fine. Your spell fixed everything, I think." He walks with her, ignoring the few pedestrians still moping around.

It sn't long before a steeple spears the sky. Revilier heads towards the clock face, stopping just before the door.

"You lead," he notes. "You're more persuasive than I am.'

Yin nods. Breathes out for a few moments, putting on her game face...which, in this case, is "I'm a tired, worn down chick I mean damsel in distress who needs some help." Steps away from Revilier to walk up the few stairs and knock quietly.

The door opens just a touch. An old hunchback peeks through, glaring with one good eye. "May I help you?" he croaks. Revilier tries not to say anything.

"I hope so," Yin notes, voice softly demure. "We're travellers, a long way from home. We would find an inn, but we've been told several times now that we're being followed by dream-stalking demons, and thought to be safer in a church. We're wondering if we can take respite here for the night."

"Of course. Sanctuary is not something to be refused." The door opens the rest of the way to reveal a distinctly simplistic, Protestant church. NOthing fancy, only a few pews with green cushions, a podium, piano, and wooden-doored rooms. "You may use the pews to sleep. I regret that I have no pillows, but there are afghans."

He gets a small, grateful bow in response. Revilier probably hadn't known that Yin is capable of being this demure...or acting it, anyway. "We're not picky about accomodations. Thank you kindly, sir." Glances back to Revilier as she steps inside.

"I'm impressed," he mouths to her, beaming a bit. She's full of surprises. For a moment, he entertains asking if the hunchmonk will let them sleep on the same pew. Decides against it.

"Here," the hunchback calls once he's returned with the colorful afghans. "Will you be needing anything?"

"No...I'm all right, but thank you. Revilier?"

"Got any scotch?"

The hunchback just smiles. "It's sacramental. We can only use it to bless things, so don't sneeze."

Yin chuckles. "Fair enough." Takes one of the afghans, bowing her head gratefully. "Thank you so much for this, sir. Taking us in despite my appearance." Of the two of them, quite ironically, Revilier looks significantly more human when he's shifted to such.

The hunchback smiles a bit. "Someone did it for me once. Good night. I'll be in my study if you need anything." And he goes towards the back room, which is adorned with a sign reading "the lord welcomes you, but stay out".

Revilier shrugs a little with his purloined afghan. "Quirky."

"Yep." Yin sits on a pew...hesitant to sleep. She needs to sleep, quite a lot actually...but not if it means going to battle. Is quiet. Looks up. "If what that scarecrow said is true..." Pause. "Nevermind. Give me a hug?"

He sits next to her. "Of course." Settles his arms around her, pulling Yin tightly to his well-muscled chest. "I don't doubt you can win a fight in your dreams, Yin. In mine, you're always stronger than anyone. And generally wearing leather."

That does it. She can't help but snicker, hands tightening gratefully to his chest. "I'll keep that in mind next time I'm out shopping," she smirks.

"You do that," he smiles for her. Hugs her more tightly. "Sleep in my arms, Yin. He'll understand."

Smiles a bit, and nods. "All of hell couldn't convince me otherwise, Revilier." She leans up to kiss him.

Of course he obliges, letting her lead. Guides her gently to lie with him.

Yin smiles...follows, of course she does, always so secure with him. She folds her afghan once more to give them a pillow...after all, she doesn't need the warmth, and least of all when she has him. Finally settles tightly against him, amazed at how quickly exhaustion is setting in. "Be careful tonight," she murmurs to whe wyvern, icy eyes gazing up at him.

His eyes meet hers. "As ever, beloved." He kisses her hair once, twice, then settles with her, idly stroking her back.

She smiles faintly, and settles into his arms, eyes falling shut. Despite everything, with his hand rubbing her back...it's a state of only slightly adulterated peace and perfect content that sees her off to Yin's dreamscape.

His eyes close, just as a cage of metal begins to form around them with only the necessary pores for breathing. They won't be harmed tonight, if he can stop it.

---

It's impossible for her to say how long she'd slept. The vampiress jerks awake quite suddenly, startled out of Yin's dreamscape.

Revilier tightens his hold on her, gazing glassy eyed. He'd been sleeping pretty soundly, actually. "Yin," he half-grunts, fingers stretching before setting against her skin. "You okay?"

Her first instinct had been alarm to find them enclosed...though the edge is taken off when she catches a very familiar, iron-esque scent that accompanies the wyvern's recently formed metal. His voice finishes calming her...she nods a bit, after a few moments. "I think so..." settles more tightly against him.

"I had the strangest dream. I'm trying to remember all of it. I don't know how much was a dream, or real. Something about Sphyxian thrashing someone. And...someone else. A succubus who called herself an incubus? something 'Yue,' I think...?"

Ugh. Lies her forehead against his chest. "I'm sorry to wake you."

"I'm not sorry you did." Reviilier kisses her horn just once. "Do you want to go back to sleep, love?"

"... never, in all my years, believed I would see proof of the divine!" the monk can be heard crying through the walls. 

"... you would have even if I hadn't been born an angel. Stop grovelling and admire. I'm bored."

The dragoon stiffens. "Revilier, I remember that voice from my dream," she observes softly.

"Do you want me to go out first, love...?" he asks this as the most minute peephole opens in the metal's pores. "Did she have black ringlets and green eyes?" And a glorious ass? And apparently a thong capable of diving?

"Oh, it's her. I recognize the attitude. I'll head out, it's okay." Smiles a bit.

The metal peels back like apple skin, almost unzipping. Revilier kisses Yin's hair once more before they're in sight, and pretends to sleep.

Yue turns her eyes from the priest. "It turns out you might be the better corner to stand in, dear."

Yin stretches after she sits up. She's amazingly content to sleep in Revilier's arms. It also makes for cramps waking up. "And what brought about this revelation?" she inquires.

"I spoke with those who know better than either of us, and if dear Lenocinant succeeds in claiming Alouette my role in existence will be finished." Her smile could give grass blush, oozing sex. "Which would be an enormous bore."

"What do you mean?" The vampiress takes a few moments to brush her hair with her fingers so that it settles properly around her horns before standing.

"Lenocinant is trying to use Alouette to create a telepathic lust devil." He tosses his hair, to the hunchback's delight. "He wants to remake her as his child, with all of his power, and use her to broadcast the delightful little impulses that make mortals dive beneath the covers en masse."

Yin's brow creases a touch. "That's...bizarre. What purpose could that serve?" God she needs a bath.

"Come now. Our kind live for pleasure. I'm sure you heard the moron twins spouting that pigeon-filth at one point or another." Yue folds his arms over an utterly sinful red dress. "We would be in heaven."

"Great. So, from one world altering nut to the next, check." Ah...right. She tries to remember. "I can...vaguely remember something happening to them, involving my guardian. Did they actually die, or...how does that work?"

"If they aren't tended to, they'll die. It happened to me once." Yue closes his eyes against the memory. "It likely means that they're in great pain, and will not take you so lightly next time. By the by. You look much nicer in a white."

Yin smirks. "I'll keep that in mind next time I'm throwing on 'hurry up you need to go get shot at' clothes."

"Dress like a queer army boy if you like," Yue tuts, tossing his hair without the obligatory 'hmph'. "You can match Aladdin there."

"Hey, it's not our fault a sociopathic succubus tore his nice clothes off." Pause. "And chalk another one up to 'phrases I never thought I'd say.'"

"But always wanted to?"

"Hey. No. If anyone's tearing his clothes off, it's me." She smirks a touch. Knows he's listening, and can't resist a touch of fun at the wyvern's expense even under the circumstances. Expression fades a bit. "So what's next?"

He is. His slight smile gives him away.

"You have options. Going on the offensive is certainly one of them, and would entail my taking you into Lenocinant's dreamscape to change his mind from within. Defense would mean sealing alouette's mind away from demonic influence somehow." Yue shrugs bare shoulders. "It could be done."

"The second, then the first," Yin is quick to decide. Nods a bit.

"You have to understand something first, love. Demonic influence plays quite a role in the average mind. Best I can tell, Alouette is mortal and not too closely connected to spiritual things. She will have no safety net, and might well go insane iwithout the balance aspect."

Expression grows more serious. "Balance of what forces, exactly?"

"Demonic, Divine, and Mortal. They are at play in all of us."

Yin is quiet a few moments at this. Damnit. More stuff she just doesn't understand...but has to make a judgement call on, anyway. "And what would our chances of success be taking the offensive?"

"Reasonable. As long as I support you, you'll have free reign within your dream realm." Yue glances again at Revilier. "My seductions are simply that. Raping mortals lacks the subtlety and grace of a pleasurable experience, you know. They must be fully aware within their dreams or else bedding them simply isn't fun. You will have that awareness."

Yin's considering this quietly. It isn't just Alou at stake here, if what this demon-angel is saying is true. It's the whole world order. Again. Just...damnit.

"And if we started by guarding Alou," she finally inquires, voice still even though her eyes are down and bemused, "would we be able to remove this guard and restore balance after Lenocinant's mind is altered? If so, what are her chances of losing her mind in the interim?"

"That entirely depends upon her force of will. I imagine the little darling's psyche isn't in top form at the moment, though." Yue taps the toe of his ruby red 'come do me' heel. "Defending Alouette does not solve the problem. Eventually Lenocinant will find another suitable candidate if he isn't stopped."

"Figured. I'm thinking in terms of 'protecting Alou if I die trying this.'" Examines her nails, considering quietly. "God I need a manicure. Anyway." Pause. "It sounds like you're pretty convinced that Alou will go 'round the bend if we do that. Taking a sure hit to prevent a possible one...iffy on that. I'm thinking straight after Lenocinant, then, and hoping for the best."

Closes her eyes a moment. "I'm not in it to save the world," she murmurs thoughtfully. "I'm in it to save Alou. But this kind of disturbance filters down to national security too, of course, and...damnit." Alou's a spy. She knows about putting world events first...and knows how much it hurts for the person who has to do it. "What do you think, Revilier?"

"This Lenocinant sounds awfully Machiavellian to me. He's trying too hard to manipulate." The general sits up, looking at Yin so that she doesn't get any ideas when he glances at Yue. "I doubt he'll expect a direct attack this early in his scheming. He'll want you to dance with his cronies for a while longer." A pause. He does look at Yue for a second, long enough for her to give him a most disconcerting "I'm going to eat you alive if you give me half a chance" look. "Even so, I wouldn't, ah... underestimate him. He's probably a little more seasoned than the average lunatic."

Yin smiles a bit. She'll consider that a go-ahead, even though he must be worried as hell. Nods once. Looks back to Yue...an enigma. Has no idea who Yus is, really, or where she came from, or that she's really helping. Yin could bullshit as good an explanation completely on the fly, she's done it a damned lot of times.

But sitting here doing nothing isn't going to help anything. And it beats any other plan she's got. By...well...existing.

Nods. "All right. How do we do this?"

"We'll need a link to Lenocinant. I can't take us directly into his dreamscape, but if we had, say, a relative of his handy we could make it in two jumps." Yue holds up a hand, gazing at her perfectly painted nails. "Glorious."

"Show off," Yin smirks. Hers had been torn all to hell yesterday, one's even chipped. Considers. "This is normally the part where I start looking for birth records or name changes and follow paper trails. How do I get started on researching a demon's relations? Will he have a link to Alou...ette?"

"Doubtful. He doesn't need a link to get into a mortal mind. What about those twits from your dreamscape?" Yue lowers her hand out of decorum. "Are they his children, or just his helpers?"

"Honestly, I have no idea, just...ah. I'm an idiot." She nods. "Comedy and Tragedy, own a freaky-ass house of horrors out west of here." Assuming the sun rises in the east. "They're his kids. Tragedy's female. Messed up as hell. Unstable, histrionic, not much sense of cause and effect, a bit sociopathic, and god knows what else. Her brother is kind of on the same page in a different playbook. Has fun watching people as playthings, but seems comparatively decent...and, more, a whole hell of a lot smarter and more on the ball. Probably a lot more threatening if set against you. Close to each other, not sure if Comedy's pissed at me for pissing of Tragedy or not. Not sure how attached Comedy is to his father, but Tragedy called him a bore. Still, he seems to have something like a base in the house, used for awhile, so one or both of them have some sense of connection."

"Do you think we could capture one of them? Just so that you know, we'll have to wade through the dreamscape of whichever we capture before jumping to Lenocinant."

"It would be really hard," Yin admits. "Though nothing's impossible. Well. Which kind of mind is more dangerous? Some intelligent and conniving or someone unstable who hates your guts?"

"In my experience, unstable is far more dangerous. But then, we might want to gauge them both." Yue looks again at Revilier. "So you were attacked by his servants?"

The general doesn't answer. Glares at her, though.

"Aggressively." Yin doesn't fill in details. "Rhoul, the male, dismissed me when I said something about attempted murder, said that Trilene just plays rough, but considering what went down, I'm far from convinced it wasn't a real danger. Also, they're very big on taunting me whenever this goes down."

"Anything to throw you off, I suppose. There's more to you than I think you know, darling. They know whatever it is, so... well. Consider all threats genuine, eh?"

She nods a little. Definitely in the practice of doing so. Breathes out. Now that it's obvious that he's awake...heads over towards Revilier. "So. We actually have to physically get possession of one of the twins? We can't just...I don't know, get to their dreams however it was you got to mine?"

"I can come and go as I please. You, on the other hand, will need to be close to them. Look on the bright side." Yue smiles, slowly parting his lips. "You have something to do."

"There is nothing I would rather do than go back into the creepy house with the Kevorkian twins and Overseer thing with the giant sickle," Yin assures. Not that she won't. Leans on the side of the metal cage beside Revilier, folding her arms. Looks at him. "Jesus Christ. That formal ball we have to go to Saturday night is going to seem like a vacation after this."

"Overseer?" Yue goes even whiter at that, his pouting lips trembling visibly. "Who said that? Where?"

The reaction gets Yin's rapt attention...though she doesn't indicate such. "Not overseer. 'Overseer inferior' he called it. Some demonologist we're in contact with. 'Sxavior.'"

Yue looks down, and to the side. "I need to sit." And he does. "Sxavior was here? Is he still?" She's shaken, and isn't bothering to hide it.

Ohhhh good. So whatever they're up against is big enough to shake someone claiming to be a high-ranking incubus. Fantastic. Still...she'd dropped Sxavior's for the name in the hope of a reaction, but expecting one had been too much to hope for. "Presumably. Communication has been remote, he's back in...'our world,' assuming that's the deal here."

Yue draws his knees against his chest, and Revilier has to look away again. Damned short skirt showing off the almighty tunneling thong.

"Sxavior's not a demonologist. He's a god, precious."

Yin jumps to sit on top of the cage...and reaches down without looking to scritch Revilier's hair. She understands, she does. It's only human to look.

Also, gives her time to process. "...say again? This is starting to head from bizarre to 'this must be a practical joke' land. Even if it could be true...why would a 'god' be involved with this?" God help her, but she's post-Enlightenment all the way. And this doesn't make any fucking sense.

Yue nods, but to what even he doesn't know. She pulls a desperately needed breath into her lungs, lets loose of her knees. "Forgive me," she breathes out. "I have more than a few unwanted memories of overseers. Sxavior is just fine. He's a darling. I've been in his dreams a time or two. Very powerful, very manly, very gentle when he wants to be." Closes her eyes. "Pardon. So you spoke with him? What did he say to you?"

"I haven't spoken directly with him, no. Communication's being relayed through Menayen." She doesn't mention the sword just yet. If Yue does turn out to be on the wrong side, it may be a much-needed wild card.

"Menayen. I forgot to mention him to Felina. Remind me to do so, darling." His feet lower to the ground again. "Well. Sxavior will be a powerful ally should we require brute strength for any reason. He's nothing special where sorcery and strategy are concerned, but his technique in combat is practically orgasmic."

"Felina..." Why does that sound familiar... Blinks. Wait. The "be a loner and I'll kick your ass" talk in the forest way back when. The woman he was referring to...his later freak out revealed that her name was Felina, didn't it? "I think...you need to find a way to get her to him. Or him to her. Whatever. He needs to know that she's okay." Needs to. It's an untied knot in his life.

Yue smiles a still-jittery smile at Yin. "I'll see what I can do." Yin does not need to know that he's speaking of a few thousand years into the future. The poor dear already has lumps on her head from considering what she's learned thus far. "She may not remember him, though."

"I'd hope she would. He certainly remembers her damned well." Still. Not the issue at hand. "So. Lots of freaky tie-ins and a god on our side. We still have to go back to that goddamned house, dont' we?"

"Likely, yes."

"Fine, then." Yin sighs. "All right. Do you have a special plan for this, or are we doing it my way?"

"I think your way is best for now. But you'll be better defended this time."

She nods a bit. Breathes out. First things first. Looks down to Revilier. "And how are you feeling today?" Eyes soften just a touch with concern.

"Better than yesterday," he assures her. "And more than ready to take that hellhole down."

Yue's lips tease a full blown smile. "Vigor suits him."

Yin has to beam at him a touch. Leans over to kiss his hair, unable to resist. Oh, yeah. That's the man she loves. "Well. I vote for getting a hot breakfast in you, you if you want or need it, too, Yue. And then go from there. The time would have been used for planning, anyway." And it's really good for nerves. Slips off the cage and drops to the floor, ready to go.

"Where does one go for food here?" Yue asks, though he could certainly go without.

"Don't know. There must be a restraunt or at least a few vendors around. We can ask the monk."

The monk, of course, is mostly lost in Yue's rack.

"Sanctuary," he whispers now and again. Yue's too amused to pay him any mind. If he only knew.

Yin rolls her eyes. It's funnier when she's the one doing it...though it's still pretty funny. "So, Master Monk, do you have any recommendations for where we can grab breakfast?"

"If I were an infant," he quickly answers before snapping to attention. "Ah... there's small tavern nearby with lovely breasts. Quail. Quail Breast."

"Of course. Nothing livens a morning plate like a nice breast. Two, if you're hungry." The vampiress smirks, having a grand time. She actually wants to hold onto her silver in case it becomes useful in and of itself again, and so heads over to the hunchback, holding out a gold coin. "An offering for the church. Thank you for your hospitality at such a late hour. I believe it helped far more even than anticipated." Judging from how pissed Trilene had been.

The monk, eyes drawn for just a moment to the gleam of gold, shakes his head with a venerable smile.

"If the church aided you, that is payment enough. Please keep your money, or give it to someone more in need of it." 

Yue is immensely impressed at the speed of transition back to monk mode.

The vampiress smiles again, and replaces the money. Bows her head. Nice guy, he could have pocketed it, too. "Thank you again, sir." Looks to her companions. "Shall we, then?"

Revilier gets up, letting his cage deteriorate into nothing again.

"We shall. And you?" He looks at Yue, who is practically gazing his pants off.

"Of course."

"Back to risking getting hit on by the forty thieves, then." Yin smirks as she heads over and takes Revilier's arm--she's gotten comfortable in this position due to many diplomatic situations in which it's more or less expected--smiles at him, and heads towards the door.

"So, Yue," she inquires as they head outside... "how does that work for you, anyway? Do demons actually need to eat, or do you humor those of us who do?"

"Need? Not really." Once outside of the church, Yue's wings vanish completely. He just looks like a undercover cop posing as a hooker now. "Want is a different story."

Revilier glances that way. Perhaps he's had one too many bad experiences with succubi, but he can't help but feel that comment was directed at him.

"Understandable, I guess." Yin nods a bit. She wouldn't know, really. She, of course, doesn't eat. Stops suddenly...just for a fast-moving cart to go careening past them at a crossroads. Eyes are wide a touch, before returning to normal. That was inches from death, there. "Okay. Now I understand why old London streets were dangerous. Wouldn't that be amusing? 'On their way to action and adventure, our heroes are hit by a vegetable seller's cart.'" Smirks. "Too fun."

Yue's eyes follow the cart. "Those horses didn't leave tracks," he observes. He squats to look more closely, and again Revilier averts his eyes.

Dammitall. Why couldn't this woman wear pants instead of flashing her ass every four seconds?

Yin's brow creases a touch, though the expression is quirky. "Ah. So, less of a coincidence, maybe. Can you tell if they were demonic, or what?"

"They were. Did you see the rider, by any chance?" The incubus rises again, and Revilier breathes out.

"I didn't." Yin sighs. Walks about fifteen feet to the left, to one of the sellers. "Is your cart okay after that? Goodness that driver was out of control." Laughs, and stoops to pick up a couple of dropped apples. "And did you see the nose on that guy?"

The seller blinks, looks at Yin with an ashen face.

Yue sidles up next to Yin, observing.

"There was no nose," the seiller blinks.

"Oh, good. You saw it too." Yin laughs quietly, very much playing the part of 'oblivious city girl.' "I thought that I was losing either my mind or my eyesight." Smiles a winning smile at the guy as she sets the fruit back where it belongs. "I mean, we have some scary drivers around here, but none quite like that. Where do you think he was from?"

"The forest," the seller nods, finally gaining back some of his color. "The mansion there. He buys things in town and delivers them back now and again." Oh yeah, he's buying it. Yin's acting skills do not lack.

"Weird! At least we have legitimate guys like the rest of you running around to balance out the crazies. I wonder what he even is...I didn't get that good a look." Pause. "Hey, how much for this apple?" Holds it up, and smiles. "It's a great red."

The seller looks at the apple. Looks at Yin. "I take copper for a bag."

"Aww..." she chuckles, setting it back down. "I can't eat that many myself. Especially with a few butterflies in my stomach after what just happened. Where do you think that crazy fellow was going, anyway? I may not want to come here at this hour anymore if he's always around right about now."

"He comes like clockwork, once every twenty-eight days." The seller smiles some. "Take it. Go ahead."

Yin beams at him close-eyed. "Aww...thank you so much! That's so sweet!" Takes the apple up again. "So...this was the guy's normal time to be here, then? I need to not be standing here right at this time, twenty-eight days from now?"

"That's right. And it is sweet! It's red." He smiles some. "I'm not sure I've seen you before, but his line runs from the mansion to the palace through the shopping district."

Yin smiles at him. "I'm not quite from around here," she knows her accent gives her away on this, anyway, "but I'm looking for a nice, quiet, non-getting-run-over place to settle down." Laughs quietly, and takes a bite of the apple. "Oh, my, that is good! Thank you again for your kindness and help, sir. Maybe I'll see you around." Smiles again, and turns to head back off towards Revilier.

"I hope so!" he calls, and then turns to sell to another customer. She seemed sweet enough.

Revilier tilts his head at the apple. "Not too much, miss no-tummy."

Yin has a slightly odd look to her face. Just smiles, and gestures to walk along with her. Retrieves a very small piece of gauze. As soon as they've turned a corner and are out of sight of the fruit seller, the bite of apple gets spit into it, nose wrinkled and tongue out a little. "Ugh. I don't see the allure of fruit. Also, something that acidic, one bite would make me regret it for the next hour." Retrieves a flask of blood, unscrewing the top with one hand as she holds the apple out. Needs something to wash the taste out. "Anyone want it?"

Revilier takes it, kisses her cheek. "Fruit tastes good and doesn't need sucked out of someone."

Yue opens his mouth. Closes it. No comment.

Yin beams at the wyvern for the kiss...tries very, very hard not to snicker at the demon's expression. She gets it. A mouthful of blood sets things towards "much better," and she tosses the gauze when they pass a refuse pit. "So. The demon cart thing, while it's possible it was out to get us, may very well have just been bad luck. Coincidence, whatever you want to call it. I vote we just grab breakfast as planned."

"Actually," Revilier holds up the apple. "This is fine for me."

"I don't need food, loves," Yue puts in. "We can move along, if you like."

Yin nods. "We need to have all planning done before getting back into the forest in any case, and no discussion once there. Comedy seems more or less aware of everything that goes on there." Folds her hands behind her neck. Considers routes quietly. "This is not going to be easy. Has to be fast and surgical. Also, Comedy is probably the better target. He's the more difficult one, but once we have one of them, I would much rather deal with possible maneuvering by Tragedy than Comedy. He would almost certainly cut us off before we could get away."

"Fight the hard battle up front, then? Fine by me, darlings, just keeping in mind that either of your deaths will ruin the plan." Yue bats his eyelashes. "So how do you intend to hurt them enough to capture one?"

"That's what I'm debating." Yin frowns a little, foldign her hands behind her neck. "See, I have no idea where Comedy stands on any of this. He knew that I was looking for Alouette and, once I was headed for the house, gave me the information I needed to get both in and out. It's hard to tell whether he might help if just asked. The trick is that I'm not sure of that, and the question could raise hackles if the whim's wrong. Further, there's the chance of not being able to trust the cooperation once it's given. On the other hand, if we go with brawn, this is a more or less dangerous mission otherwise, hardly guaranteed success. Even if he would have been cooperative, we'll have made a dangerous enemy. It will have to be a very fast takedown with an even quicker exit if any of the demons or his sister get wise. There won't be time for any kind of fight, it needs to be a very surgical strike. Flawless. Asking the question could be worth the risk, but it comes with partially forfeiting the element of surprise, which is invaluable." Ponders as they walk. "Of course, Tragedy doesn't seem to be the decision-maker of the place, so he's likely the one allowing Lenocinant to stay in there. 'Why' becomes the new important question, but it's not likely one we can get an answer on ahead of time."

"i see. Do you know if these characters are mortal, or divine? And can you gauge the limits of their powers?" Yue's keeping mental track of all of this. "Also, do you have a suitable weapon?"

"I do have a suitable weapon. I don't know exactly what the twins are, only that Lenocinant is their father. The Jabberwock--sorry, Revilier--seemed to think that they were extremely powerful in their own house, but theorized that their power would be negligible outside it. They do have servants that can leave the house, though, that overseer thing not the least of them."

The angelbus's eyes close a little, just a little, shaking off a bout of irrational terror. "The Jabberwock, eh? Lovely. Perhaps we could lure them out some way?"

"I have absolutely no theories on how. Comedy does appear around the forest as the Cheshire Cat, but I have no guesses on whether that's him, or it's some kind of remote body, or whether it could just disappear like it always does if we grabbed it. The Jabberwork observed that they never come out, though he's been in the house. Considering the way people outside talk about the forest, they seem to have been here a very long time. I have to assume they have multiple methods of dealing with more or less everythign from inside. Though if you have any suggestions, I'm all for hearing them."

"We could try dream-hopping to get into his head. Do you know an underling of his we might capture more easily?"

Yin considers this. "Not off the top of my head..." she admits. "There's Patricio, who I think has been in the house awhile, but I don't know that it would work since he seems more trapped there than actually in it. There's Rosencrantz. He's pretty much identical to Guildenstern, who put up a good enough fight to set me on fire..." here, though her bearing remains perfectly calm, she does take Revilier's non-apple arm..."if I beat one, I can probably beat the other. More associated with Tragedy, I think...which is the case with most of the underlings I encountered, actually. The other reason I'm keener on going after her brother."

The general keeps place with her, but covers her hand. He knows Yin hates to admit being hurt in a fight, and certainly empathizes.

By now, the group has reached the city walls. The forest stands just outside.

"What of this Patricio, then?" Yue leans against the wall for a moment, peering out. "Could he be useful?"

"In terms of being able to procure him, probably. If he's an enemy, he's the only one in the house who's never given any evidence of such of it. The MO of the whole complex is very overt, they make no secret of intentions, so it would be quite the anomoly if he's being sneaky about it. I don't know whether he's close enough to them for what you've described...not that I know what I'm talking about on the matter. He's indicated that he's lost in the house and trying to extricate all of the snakes from it, but that he's mostly 'ignored by the devil twins' and 'not interesting enough for them,' his words."

"It sounds a bit on the unusual side. But... heaven. Saint Patrick, too?" Yue sighs a bit. "I do hate fairy tales. Except for the Disney versions this era loves so."

"I'm inclined to say the same thing. Except that I'm a vampire who works for dragons and dates a wyvern, so I think I've lost my right to complain on the matter." Yin shrugs, amused.

"Something about this just stinks." Yue tosses her hair, almost pouting at all this. "The timing seems odd. So many demons have risen up lately, in ways that cause the unpleasant kind of pain."

Yin looks over to him, face fading again to fully serious. "care to expound?"

"Not especially. It's not something you should concern yourself with more than you already are." Far from guarded about it, Yue seems almost teasing in warning Yin away from the topic.

"Mm." Yin plays idly with an ice dart she'd created just for amusement, balancing it on a finger as they walk. "I get the feeling that someone, somewhere is giving Lenocinant a long leash. He's being used for something larger and we," meaning she and Revilier, not Yue, "are getting played as something between 'pawn' and 'white space on the chess board."

"Everyone has a master. Never kid yourselves about that, darlings." Yue stares at them both for a second longer than Revilier is comfortable with. "You two are darling together. I don't suppose you might enjoy being shared?" She's deflecting Yin's line of thought, or so she hopes.

Yin isn't oblivious to the quickly changed subject--this is the kind of thing she's supposed to look for, both as a spy and an ambassador, of course--but raises an eyebrow. "Remind me again whether you're a succubus or an incubus."

"Does it matter?" Yue asks this in a swift snap that still comes out as smooth as baby oil.

Yin titters. Yeah, she thought that would be a hot button. "It certainly derailed the subject just as effectively as you did the last one. I like playing in pairs." She sips her blood, and quietly whistles a few bars of Vivaldi's spring. "I think you know what's going on. The bigger picture. I don't really think you're on Lenocinant's side. I just hope your ends won't go too badly for us."

"You ought to know that there is always a bigger picture," Yue snaps, this time jagged-edged as befitting a snap. "And I am an incubus, thank you. I'm sure that makes your delicious boyfriend feel strange for staring at my ass earlier."

Revilier isn't really listening, actually. His attention is far too wrapped up in not listening for that.

"And what makes you think I wasn't serious?" The fallen angel adds, eyes flickering with just a hint of infernal light.

"Not serious about which?" Yin inquires. "Sharing? I appreciate you having the courtesy to ask, anyway. Seems to set you aside from your bretheren a bit. You're prettier than Trilene, anyway."

"Ugh. Of course I am. I'm prettier than everyone." Yue folds her arms over her chest, pouting with full lips-pushed-out action. "If your role in all of this grows, then I will tell you more. Until then, none of what I could say will affect your adorable little lives."

"See, that's actually all I wanted to hear. Thank you." Yin's fingers toy idly with the back of Revilier's arm. His skin's soft. She teased him about the body wash when she found out, but it is pretty. Also, explains why he smells like vanilla.

She smiles. Riled Yue, confirmed that Yue has a fairly big interest in this and knows what's going on, and settled Yue down. She actually doesn't dislike the demon--might like her, given time--but she's glad she can do it. "So. From what you've heard, do you think we could use Patricio's mind to get to one of the twins'?"

The incubus's lips tremble a bit. "I think," Yue all but snarls, voice growling its demonic nature, "if you spoke to Trilene and Rhoul the way you've spoken to me, you deserved whatever they gave to you." Her wings reappear, unfolding in sparkling red-black scale-feathers. "Playing me is not in your best interests."

"I don't doubt that. Trusting you blindly isn't, either." Yin's intimidated. She just doesn't show it. Looks over to the incubus. "I wanted to know that you weren't chauffering us straight to our deaths. Now I don't think you are."

Revilier's hand falls to the gun Yin had given him. Beautiful or not, he's not going to hesitate to shoot first if that's what it takes.

"Maybe I still am," Yue sighs, voice back to normal. "I'm sorry, darlings. Distrust is such an ugly--" her head whips towards Revilier when his fingers touch the gun. Sparks only just precede the hellfire erupting from within the device.

Revilier jerks his hand back, swearing in rapid succession before he manages to get the thing away from him.

Yin's eyes snap open. "Revilier...!" She extremely defensive, and her right arm is quickly dropping to frigid and small crystals of ice showing near the elbow in preparation. A moment later, when Yue doesn't more into further action, a gold-glowing pair of hands quickly wrap around the wyvern's, face a touch under stricken, though she won't turn her back to the demon under the circumstances.

Yue just steps back. Her eyes lose their infernal luster, filled instead with contrition. Perhaps even sadness.

Revilier holds up his hand to Yin. "It's not burned," he declares, waving it. "It felt burned."

Her brow creases a touch, loosening her grip on it a bit. "Full mobility and such...?" She's pissed. She hadn't seen his hand move to the gun, she'd been looking at the demon. As far as she knows, it's just an intimidation tactic riding the coattails of the "don't fuck with me" comment when she'd thought the matter was being put to bed.

"Just fine," he nods. Looks at Yue. "Don't do that again."

"Don't reach for a weapon again," Yue snaps back, but quietly, apologetically. Almost like a scolded little girl.

Yin closes her eyes a moment. Great. Just great. Takes Revilier's arm again--with the opposite arm this time, since the other's frigid--and resumes walking, silently right at first. God what she wouldn't give for a minute alone to get Revilier's thoughts. Trust for Yue is definitely shakier than before, regardless of circumstances.

Quiet. Finally. "Will Patricio, or will Patrio not, likely be a way into Comedy's head?"

"I don't know. I'd have to visit it first. Tell me what he looks like." Yue's definitely sulking now, head turned down and the dark circles around his eyes a bit more evident.

"He's a cleric type. White, blonde hair, gray-green eyes, green clothing, and practical leather armor. Has an older vibe than his appearance explains away. Carries a staff."

"Then I will find him and check into it. Goodbye."

Yin nods. "Careful, right?" And she just turns her attention to Revilier, hands folding around his again, cooling gently against any phantom pain. Memories of intense pain are nearly as bad as the real thing, at times.

"I'm okay," he assures her, watching Yue swish into the forest. "I went for the gun. I'm not sure why, I just felt like you were in danger."

She nods...smiles a bit...takes his arm. "You don't have to justify it to me. She threatened pretty directly. I was a little more worried about her saying 'screw you' and her leaving than immediately attacking, but I wasa ready to defend, too. Also, I seem to recall you nearly shooting that creepy chick earlier for saying she wanted me dead and being able to back it up, and something further back where I was wondering whether you were going to tackle Millarca over an altar railing for threatening to remove my tongue." Pause. "For the record, I'd have paid money to see that last one." Grins up at him.

"Me too. So if we ever see him again, we'll give him a code red." Revilier grins a little. "I love you. I mean that."

She smiles right back. "I love you, too. Need to keep you around awhile. So what do you want to do while we wait for Yue? If we wait for Yue?"

About that time, a poof of light snaps overhead and a blood-haired, black-clad Serinian tumbles to smack on the ground just in front of them.

"Owie!"

Yin stiffens, hand jerking to a defensively ready position...until she gets a look at the attacker. Doesn't relax, but does blink. "She looks an awful lot like Kaz." Wait...a long-eared woman who's Yue's "guardian." Is this "Felina," then...? "Er...are you okay, Miss?"

The long-eared creature wobbles to her feet, and them promptly smiles a vapid, bright eyed smile. Revilier wonders at her red irises, but Yin's much better at Q and A. And T and A, too.

"Pink as a puss," she snickers, dancing in a way that mostly involves moving her hips to either side. She stops, though, eyes fixing on Yin's face. "Ai?"

The dragoon assumes this is some other language. "I'm sorry, I don't know what that means."

"No no no no no yes no. Oh! You just look a lot like someone I know. A lot like. Scary like. Cutie. Hi!" The serinian beams at both of them, and resumes dancing. "I'm your Mara-kuru this evening. And tomorrow!"

Holy hell. Yeah. Yin and Revilier have to be thinking the same thing: yep. All serinians are on crack.

"Well, thank you. Um...nice to meet you, too. Can we help you?"

That is exactly what the general is thinking.

"Maybe. I am looking for a six foot two hotness named Yue have you seen him I think he was looking for Yin and someone and there I thought I could see where she was but she left and now I just have to look because Fel was wondering where she went and then Orrin went over the other guy and asked and he didn't know because he was looking into the drow-guy's face and shouting and the priest girl was all stop fighting and then one guy kicked the other guy in the giblets I couldn't tell who but it was funny anyway you seen him?"

The result is several seconds of a blank stare Mara no doubt sees all the time. "Um. Okay. Yue we just met. She went off into the forest to investigate something not two minutes ago. Also, I'm Yin."

"Ooh! Hiya Yin you look pretty is this your dad?" Mara looks over at Revilier, then back at Yin.

Yin's upper lip twitches. Revilier is likely very familiar with the way certain muscles are tensed to understand that she's trying very, very hard not to laugh. It happens occasionally when she's playing arm candy in diplomatic situations. The last one had involved a buzzed Chilean ambassador who had been flirting while Revilier's back was turned...though the wyvern had only been two steps away, and the guy had so little chance that it was just comical. "Thank you. You look pretty too. And this is Revilier, my boyfriend."

Mara beams, dances for another second or two. "He's not that old, I guess. Unless Yin has a daddy complex like Mara does cause when someone shouts who's your daddy I say his name was Rei and he'd kick your ass and then I'd hug them because I'd feel bad." At the end, her ears droop and she goes to into perfect sad kitty mode, big gleaming eyes and all.

"Well, at least there was much ass kicking," Yin observes after a brief pause. She's trying to keep up with Mara, she swears, though her poor brain's pistons aren't designed for this. "So, Miss Mara-kuru, now that you've found us, what was it that you needed to do?"

"I don't remember," Mara nods, and then starts dancing again.

"Ah...right then. Was it something you needed to do with Yue instead?"

"Oh, no. I just kinda wanted to come see and make sure everyone's okay because Ansendul said that we need to make sure you don't turn into a pudding pie or coffin stuffer because then there would be no reunion before everyone kicks everyone else in the nuts." 

In translation from Mara-Kuru speak: "I am seeing to your safety. You have a great destiny, and will play a pivotal role in an upcoming conflict."

"Uh. Right." Are apples hallucinogenic? Did that thing have red spots? "Who's Ansendul?"

"Your mama," Mara nods. "Oh, no. Wait. Who's your daddy?" She purrs, beaming. "Sorry, sorry, hadta. Okay! Mara is here because Ansendul who is this guy with pretty eyes said that you're important yes so I should be making sure you don't get whopped upside the tits with something. Mara thinks she needs an update on what's going! On."

Blink. Looks at Mara. Looks at Arabia. Looks to the guy on her arm. "Revilier? How early do you suppose is too early to start drinking around here?"

"Short days, remember. Drink all you want."

Mara smiles more brightly. "You're so cute. So right. I see Yue!" She tenses, and quite suddenly leaps to her right, pouncing a just-appearing Yue practically out his whoresuit.

"Gyah! Hi Mara."

"Hi cutie. Safe?"

"Safe."

"Okee. I'm out. Let me know okay?" Mara looks at the two of them, still sitting on Yue's belly. "Okay?"

"Let you know what exactly?" Yin inquires.

"When you're done and how it went and if anybody needs alkiehol because I have a million of them and will bring to them to you but! You have to promise not to drink more than me because I can drink you under the table AND out of a bottle. Also, so I can bother you later." Mara nods. "I gotta tell Fel about you," she declares.

"What will you tell her, if I can be so bold?" Yin inquires. She wants to know why she's so bloody interesting to all of these frea...interesting people. And who Ai is.

"I want to tell her that I met Yin and her creepy Aladdin fetish man, and say "so all the demons involved in the war we're fighting were waiting on a shipment from Lenocinant and we trashed him in the breadbox and stuffed him in the bin marked 'bitches only please." She beams. "And you smell pretty good."

"Well...thank you." Yin scritches the back of her hair. Blinks to find a flea. Ugh. Medieval civilization is not cool. "It was nice meeting you, Miss Mara-kuru."

"Fuckin' ay!" She beams, purrs, and vanishes, her little chuckle still floating about for a few moments afterward.

Yue sits up, leaning on his knee for a moment. "So much for subterfuge, dears."

The vampiress nods a bit. Looks over to Yue. "We have a quarrel with Lenocinant. We do. But will this somehow bring war and danger to our nations?"

"No. Your nations are..." he ponder how to put this without laying too much self-importance at their feet.

Hell with it.

"This world lacks the significance."

Yin smirks, amused. "Sounds preferable. Doesn't bother me. Does insignificance bother you, Revilier?" Grins a little at the wyvern, flicking the itch-inducing little bug away.

"Only when I'm naked?"

Yue rolls his eyes. "Amateur. Do leave the sex jokes to me." He dusts himself off as he rises, the material of his red dress blackening with every pat until, after a moment, the succubus stands fitted into a delicious, black spyslut suit with the back open enough for wings. "We should move. What was decided as our course of action?"

"Depends. What did you find out about Patricio's appropriateness?"

"I found no such man. Either he has escaped, or the owners of the house silenced him. One or the other, neither of which matter tremendously to me." The succubincubus sets to tying his hair back. "If I created a distraction, do you suppose you two could steal one of them away?"

Yin nods slowly...considers quietly. "It couldn't be an early distraction, I think. No more than twenty seconds before we're finished the apprehension." Pause. Touches her ear. "Wakey wakey Kaz. You there?"

"With bells on."

And honest to goodness bells jingle in the background.

"What's up hotness?"

"Would it be possible to get ahold of some chloroform bombs or something functionally similar?"

"Chloroform? Nasty. Let me see what I've got on hand." 

Amidst a great clatter and clank, Yue watches Yin's face for hints at what's going on on the other end of the line.

"Flashbangs, frag and high explosive grenades, bouncing betties, hornet's nests, ooh. Tear gas?"

The vampiress just looks quietly thoughtful, listening. This kind of endeavor is just her element. "Mm. I've got a decent range of explosives on hand already. Tear gas may work, but it's way down there on the preference list. What we need to do is abduct someone with a strong preference for avoiding serious injury. Any injury, if possible. Has to work fast, too. What sort of knock-out toys have you got on hand?"

Pause. Palm to face.

"And please just write down the creative answers to that one and read them to me after I get back."

"Gotcha. 'Cause I seriously have a tranquilizing dildo bomb." Pauses. "Hornet's nests are great for nonlethal force. You know what they are, right?"

"Sure, and one or two may be nice to have on hand, but I'm not sure they're right for this job. For one, we're going to be in pretty tight quarters and I shudder at the prospect of the ricochet. More than that, we're going to have to get a true takedown, have the guy unconscious, fast. He's got a lot of magic on hand inside the house, and even the possibility of his retaliating before we can put him out isn't good. Also, single target. I have the most luck with those things for distractions and crowd control. Have a tranquilizer gun on hand, or ammo? Have 22 and 32 pistols."

"Nah... have an air taser though. Pretty advanced, to, it's just a node now. No strings."

Yin nods thoughtfully. "That may work. Tell me this first, though, and yes I know it's probably wishful thinking...do you have enough juice to transport four people back there on a signal?"

"Back where? Here?"

"It's what I meant...but anywhere would be a perk."

"Maybe. Been workin' on it. I fucking... um. I wonder four?"

"Me, Revilier, the guy we need to apprehend, and an incubus we're working with."

"Fantastic. I swear, I'm gonna start reading witch books and fairy tales as strategy lexicons! Moving on. I found a liquid nitrogen grenade. Helpful? And how big is this incubus and capturee?"

"Both human sized, and...aren't liquid nitrogen grenades lethal? Hell, even I could get frostbite from that."

"Well yeah. But I thought you might be able to use it anyway.  Yeah, I think I can handle that. When do you want it, 'cakes?"

"Will sending something now jeopardize your being able to get us away in, say, an hour or so?"

"Nah. Things juiced to the gills!"

She grins a little. "All right. Let me ask real quick." Mutes, glances to Revilier. "Hey, Kaz is going to send me a couple of creative grenades, though he doesn't have any tranquilizing equipment handy. You need anything?"

"Smoke grenades are always handy. Oh. See if he has any matches and lighter fluid." Revilier checks his pockets. Nothing, of course. "You never know when fire will be handy."

Yin wrinkles her nose at him, jokingly. "Right. I'll take your word for it, non-ice-creature." Unmutes. "Revilier wants to know if you have any smoke grenades, matches, and lighter fluid. Yes, for the record, we've got quite the little job in the works."

"No matches or lighter fluid handy, but I have some molotov cocktails hidden. Hey, this is an arsenal, not a hardware store."

"No, but that tranquilizing dildo bomb you mentioned may qualify it as something else, too."

"Touche. Stuff incoming."

About then, a box of the aforementioned weapons zaps into sight before them. Yue gazes at the box, totally uninterested, for about two seconds before going back to stretching his wings and pacing.

"Thanks, Kaz. You're a doll." Yin heads over that way, investigating what they've got. Holds the cocktails out to Revilier. "No matches and lighter fluid on hand, unfortuantely, but these are about the closest thing handy. We should be fine on standard ammo and such. Have a sniper rifle in my pack, too."

"Sounds good. Okay. So..." Revilier thinks for a second. "What we really need is--"

Zap, and a couple of backpacks fall at their feet. He blinks. Looks up at the sky.

"What we really need is Comedy already captured for us?"

Nothing.

"Damn."

Yin grins. "Well, we've been through this. He's a clever little bastard." She takes up the box and walks with the others a short distance from the city, and sets them down again, along with her heavy original pack. "Well, less likely for someone to overhear, anyway. Feel free to go through and pick what you need. I'll need to make some choices, too...thing's too heavy for infiltration. We'll stash the rest in the woods and hope it doesn't come up missing."

She grabs a stick and brushes an area of dust reasonably smooth with a boot, and then sets to drawing some quick diagrams in the dirt. "Okay. This is the house. This is the main level. Front is here. This entryway is a point of entrance and exit. Do not use it. It creates some freaky-ass spell that will supposedly bind you to the house and twins, and mess with your mind somehow. If you're forced into it, know that the spell's visual. Close your eyes and ignore the screaming banshees or whatever they are and you should be okay."

"How dreadfully uninteresting," Yue notes. "So. How do you plan on getting inside, dears?"

"Getting there." Inward twitch. Looks to Revilier. "That thing's called 'the hall of winding' if it comes up for some reason, since melodrama seems to be the operative word of the day. These areas of the house," she marks the narrow column of three levels, "are the only ones charted, and it would be wise to stick with them if possible. These stairs may or may not be there at any given time. To open them..." and here she goes through and explains the clocks, "the cat's clue," where the other areas go that she's seen, the fact that the gallery is a dead end, and some of the possible enemies around.

"This is our point of entrance and, hopefully, exit. This is where Red was waiting for us last time, and she operated the door from the outside. The trick, of course, to all this is that we have no idea where Comedy will be. If I had to venture one guess, he'll find us. Also, getting separated equals bad idea."

"You said that Comedy bothered you outside. Suppose we could catch him outside? Or even talk him down? I," Revilier notes, "would rather not fight legions of puppets and freakish monsters without knowing I had exhausted my options."

"It's possible that we'll see him once inside the forest." Yin nods, considering. "My problems there boil down to 'don't know shit about this magic stuff.' He appears outside as the Cheshire Cat, and can disappear at will. I'm not sure if, once caught, he could just disappear, or if we knocked him out, that that's his real body at all. If we make an attempt and we're wrong, our element of surprise is gone...but could be worth the risk, of course."

"I'm not sure how to capture something like that anyway," revilier grumps. He's getting a little annoyed with all this magical nonsense. "Reasoning might be the only way."

Yin nods slowly. Isn't put aside by the mood...after all, she shares it. "We really could be sabotaging ourselves, but..the schematics of this infiltration are fairly easy, but those of the capture aren't. Total unknowns." Looks up. "I think I'm with you. Trying to talk it out first might be in our best interest. Outweigh the admittedly sizeable risk."

He nods. There's nothing he likes more than to seem like a reasonable, intelligent person in Yin's presence. He cannot help but feel more accessible to her when he does something ostensibly right.

"Very well. I suppose charging into the forest should get his attention." Yue's penciled eyebrow arches. "Provided that hook-monster has gone."

Yin smiles a close-eyed smile at Yue as she picks up her pack. "Well, I'm guessing we'll know within a couple of minutes. Okay, so, the plan is to wander and hope Comedy comes to say hi. Shall we?" Looks to the wyvern.

"Sounds good to me. I feel ridiculously out of my element, but shooting something ought to cure that." And he walks that way, towards hubris, with Yue close behind.