A fresh, verdant planet, not unlike a fictitious planet Moorn might have created had things gone a bit differently in his past dealings with Felina Deyono. Cherry trees about, and wetlands are the rule rather than the exception. A strange tower stands in the middle of this place... the only shelter on the entire face of the planet. The rest is wild, and beautifully so.

---

Helantri Deru
Niven Ai

Istan Archive

---

Ai appears without herald, near the courtyard where so much of Dewei's training had taken place. Her smile is broad and genuine at having a reason to visit here, as she still burns with the love she has for her father, pride for the planet, and interest in Dewei.

"Dewei?" she calls, looking around.

"Over here. Hello." Dewei looks up just barely long enough to smile at her, before looking back down to what he's doing. He's sitting cross-legged on the edge of the massive, sculptural fountain her father had designed for her. His shirt's lain to the side so that he can practice a rune set on his own arm. Not as permanent as those on Ai's body, at this point, but good stuff anyway. "How are you today, Miss Ai?"

"Hello, and I have seen far worse days." Ai trots over to the fountain, trying not to notice the gigantic image upon the fountain. She cannot help but feel self-conscious whenever she sees the thing, really. "You're looking well. May I ask what you are doing?"

"Trying to fine-tune a spell set that should allow this hand to pierce certain kinds of shields. Most psionic ones that don't involve certain magical infusions...mostly elemental and other highly natural sorts, and almost all kinetic and impact energy based ones." Dewei nods, eyes enthusiastic though focussed and serious at the same time, always more than happy to discuss magical theory or current projects. "Between my sister, my mother, and your father, I am quite sure that I can find someone willing to let me test this version's effectiveness, and beat the stuffing out of me if I'm wrong and leave myself prone." He grins a fangy grin at her, briefly, and then looks back down, face quickly focussed once more.

Ai smiles back at him, turning her eyes to the rune. Her excitement at his dedication rarely goes concealed, as she shares much of his enthusiasm for the project. "I would be happy to help you, Dewei," she assures him, momentarily forgetting her business here.

He has to laugh at that after a few moments. "Oh, good. It's reassuring to know that you're willing to appreciate in the beating of the apprentice." He spares her a grin, a less hurried one this time, and looks back to his arm. "Well...I think this one's far enough along...there." He lets out his breath as the thing activates, showing only a tiny energy-shift for it. "That this round can't really have any adjustments made."

"You're doing so well, Dewei," she praises him genuinely, admiring his work. It's different than what she or her father would have done, turned in Dewei's unique script. "Does this mean we fight now?"

"Well, only if you feel like it, of course," Dewei is quick to clarify. He starts to nod, then stops when that impedes putting his shirt back on, and does that instead.

"I always feel like helping your studies." Ai slides off the fountain. Her outfit shines into faceted rays and melds into a much more functional suit of simple denim jeans and a black shirt, with a denim vest over the shirt. "What do you think?" she chuckles, doing a turn. "I saw this outfit in a history book."

Dewei smiles. "It is very becoming on you, Miss Ai." She looks pretty whatever she wears, though.

Her paler-than-natural cheeks take on a hint of color. "I hoped you'd like it. So. Tell me what I am supposed to be firing at you?"

"Anything you like. This rune set should target defenses, not attacks, so I just need to see your shields." The half-dumen nods.

"Alright." A pause, while a strikingly Moorn-esque force field develops in a full sphere around the undead divinity. "Like this?"

Dewei smiles. "Perfect. Also, if there's something wrong with how I break the shield and you're able to strike me because of it, please do so, alright? Ready?"

Ai nods. She maintains a loose stance - again, just like her father - and beckons to him with both hands. Her generous lips twist into a sidelong smile. "Don't blink, Dewei."

He grins at her briefly, nods, and then becomes more serious. Mostly serious, anyway. Sprints towards her, concentrating heavily...a certain power flickers into being around his hand to activate the new rune set, and the invisible energies immediately take new, knifelike qualities. With any luck, it should shatter her shield, though it's highly specialized and won't be able to harm the goddess directly. The recoil should do that.

Ai instinctively raises her arms, though such is a pointless gesture with her force field in place. The attacks strike cleanly, confounding her, but as she prepares to strike in return the sensation of crackling invades her senses. The field wavers, and then dissipates with a concussive bang that sends Ai tumbling end over end, until she finally smacks into the fountain and stops.

Dewei is torn between contrition, concern, and overwhelming thrill that it had worked, all of which flash over his face in quick succession. Concern takes little time to win, and he hurries to her side, dropping to a knee beside her and touching her shoulder. His hand glows with an undead-friendly restorative spell. "Ehm...are you all right, Miss Ai..." Ears are down and back. And there's the contrition.

Even though about two thirds of her visible body - hands, face and neck, and ankles - have degenerated into their less-alive forms, Ai is chuckling by the time Dewei arrives. She forces herself to rejuvenate quickly, of course, that he won't have to look at her like that.

"That was wonderful!" Pouting lips spread wise, a teeth-baring smile that is somewhat rare for Ai. "You must show Father, Dewei."

His cheeks colour a little, but his ears do return about halfway to their upright and locked position. He smiles a little, and nods. "When it next comes up, Miss Ai. He knows that I was working on the project. You are okay, though...?" He does have his priorities.

That makes her smile a little more genuine. "Of course. I really lost much of my capacity to feel physical pain after the world-worm incident." She sits up, lets her eyes linger upon his. "Though perhaps it is only toughening up. Your family is a good influence, it seems."

His grin returns, a little, and he stands up, offering her a hand. "'Suckers for punishment,' you mean? My mother is a masochist. And, apparently, that's genetic." His dark eyes are amused.

"I'll remember that, Dewei." Hers are amused as well, flickering as they do whenever she's energetic. "Help me up?" She holds out here hands, batting her eyelashes for personal amusment more than effect.

His face brightens a little, though the cheeks are still coloured. "Of course!" And, he does.

"Very much better," she nods. Her fingertips linger upon his palms for a half-second longer than necessary. "Shall we test again, while I'm here?" Quite suddenly, though, she recalls just why she had come to Istan Aiga in the first place. "Oh... right. Dewei, would you like to have some coffee with me?"

He blinks. Quick change. But..."of course, Miss Ai. It would be a pleasure." He doesn't like coffee. He's never told her this. He smiles, and nods.

"My place?" She laughs, realizing how silly that sounds. The funny thing is, she's not propositioning him this time. It only sounds that way.

Dewei grins, but doesn't comment. He knows what she means, of course. "Okay. I've finished the work I have to get down for the day, anyway." He smiles, and nods. "Sounds lovely."

"Follow me, then." Ai fades out, bound for her study at Niven Ai.

---

The first thing that Dewei does when he gets back is to make sure that absolutely everything he's been assigned to do for the day is in perfect order. He feels for Moorn as he does a little touch-up labor here and there, since he's not sure where the sorceror's been today.

Actually, Moorn has been at the Istan Cairn Stones with Mara-kuru for most of the afternoon. Now, however, he is prowling around the courtyard area as if inspecting it for flaws, just out of Dewei's sight.

Dewei can sense him, of course. This particular fellow's signature is just a tad hard to miss for anyone with so much a hint of psychic inclination from their mother's father's brother-in-law's side. He just goes about the tiny, perfectionistic little chore he'd found and, when that's done some forty-five seconds later, approaches the sorceror. "Excuse me..."

"For what?" Radivishe Moorn continues his inspection as if Dewei had said nothing, though its plain from his manner that he is listening. He taps a stone, and walks on. Tap, walk.

Dewei blinks. "Being? Actually, I need to talk to you about something that Miss Ai asked me."

Ah. The daughter. This, of course, commands Moorn's attention like nothing else in the entire universe, and so he ceases his inspecting to stand up before Dewei. "Fire away."

"Well, you probably already know the first part...that she's planning to host some form of athletic competition on one of the moons near Niven Ai. She asked me to participate." His intention with the question is obvious, though whether his recent mentor will acknowledge that or not is beyond his guess.

Radivishe Moorn, much unlike the Onos, is a great proponent of saying what one means. "And?" He tilts his head over, looking at Dewei with the strangely neutral expression that replaced his permascowl a while back.

"And, I was hoping for your permission to do so, since I'd be flaunting how seriously I take being your apprentice were I to up and leave without getting it," Dewei finishes, most completely and bluntly than he normally would. Eh. He can be taught. Eventually.

The sorcerer nods. "Provided you will allow a small test of what you have learned so far." He looks to the monument of Ai, wondering at what has gotten into his daughter to even suggest such a thing. A gathering of powers so close to her home... it bothers him. "Will you?"

The rookie rune sorceror nods, though of course his mind is racing trying to figure out what the test will entail. "Of course."

"Tell me her mother's name." Radivishe Moorn crosses his arms over his chest. "And her real name."

Dewei blinks. He's positive by now that Moorn and his mother are alike in that they love playing with people's heads. But, he's spent a lot of time talking to Ai, so... "Dun. And, Mi'ehna."

"Her favorite color. Flower. Instrument. Fabric. Lipstick color." If he's kidding, it certainly does not show in his mood.

"Pale blue. Like...the sky. Forget-me-nots." Pauses to remember the question. "Tubular bells, and church bells...particularly in the mid to lower register. Silk, and...I've never seen Miss Ai wear lipstick, so I don't know." His ears are a touch red by the end of this very informed dissertion.

"No kidding." His eyes have narrowed a touch. "One last question, Dewei. Would you have traded the test I just gave you for a spar, or a rune examination, or some such?"

"In a heartbeat," Felina's youngest is quick to answer, nodding emphatically.

"Why?" It's a fairly simple question. But Dewei is just so pathetically self-contained... part of being a teacher, Moorn knows, is developing the personality of a pupil.

Dewei hesitates a moment over this...but then admits that he won't be telling Moorn anything he doesn't alraedy know. "Because it makes it obvious that I have a crush on your daughter. And you're both her father and my mentor." He is very, very red by now.

This brings a small smile to the sorcerer's face. Now, it would be game time.

"Spar with me, Dewei." Moorn glances to one side, where Mara-kuru appears about two seconds later, and holds a finger to his lips. Mara obediently sits down in typical Serinian fashion. "If you haven't learned enough to beat me, then I will forbid you from ever seeing or speaking to my daughter again."

Dewei's agape for a moment. "I don't suppose it's a negotiable challenge...?" He murmurs after a second.

"Either that or we fight to the death."

"Oh, right." Dewei sighs quietly, but then puts his game face on. "Here?"

"Whenever you're ready." Moorn sets down the stick he'd been holding. "My daughter is sacred to me. I would incinerate planets if she asked me to. Or build them." He gestures around himself. "Weak men need not breathe her air, Dewei."

Dewei nods. He agrees with that enough...that he's ready to do this. Takes a stance. "Fine then. Hit me." He's like his mother that way. Always tries to instigate the first blow.

Mara-kuru wriggles on the sidelines. She's not sure what's going on, though she figures that it's semi-friendly, and so she cheers for both of them. "Go boys! Beat each other, yay!"

Moorn shakes his head. "No." A psi-kinetic field forms around him, guided by his rune-drawing until it encompasses him in a sphere not unlike Ai's force field, only exponentially more dense. "You have to beat me. I need not defeat you."

Damnit. Dewei lets out his breath, examines the shield a few moments, eyes narrow. He never screws around training, but he's taking this more heavily, that's obvious. He double-checks the energy on the rune he'd used against Ai's shield...still active, though exeedingly quiet. Good. He can't be sure it's strong enough, though. He lets out a slow breath...and then moves. Splits suddenly into three. One carries a fire spell, one a water, one earth. All have their right hands raised to strike. Dewei's getting good at dividing concentration, but isn't yet to a point where he can manage four different spells and control the dopplegangers independently.

The three spell-clad hands snap forward into Moorn's shield. All have strengthening runes writing...but the one hidden beneath the earthern power is actually amplifying his shield-cracking one.

Dewei is doing nothing if not fighting for keeps. If he gets through that shield, he's going to take advantage of any stumble with a blood choke, no reservation.

The elder sorcerer's eyes sparkle at that attack pattern. Felina would gag, and that makes him chuckle. Though he cannot see the rune's presence exactly, he does feel that something is up Dewei's sleeve. Else, why assault a fortified position?

Mara-kuru is wiggling, by now. She senses Gabriel's shift in his shield rune, and notes its color turning red as Dewei's shield-breaker sents a spiderweb of barely visible breaks in the visible field. She sends a masked thought to Dewei, no words, hinting that something is about to go boom.

He'd hurt his wrist when it didn't go through. Wouldn't have stopped him from continuing, but...as it is, one foot plants against hte shield just enough to spring backward, casting his own shield.

That's the fun thing about even half-serinians. They're bouncy and made of rubber.

Radivishe Moorn closes his eyes, just as the entire shield grows crimson, quivers, and... sputters into nothing. He opens his eyes. Blinks.

"Bad boy," Mara scolds him, "Dewei broke your shield you cheated! Dewei wins, three points, no hitting below the belt! That's travelling, bitch!"

Dewei breathes out, but quickly. Doesn't listen to his aunt, as much as he wants to. Moorn hadn't told him to neutralize the shield, Moorn had told him to beat him. And considering what had been laid at stake...

He'd been hoping for a moment of surprise. Even before he's sure it's coming, Dewei flings a powerful, slicing psionic-type attack at the sorceror the moment the shield starts to quiver and, the second it dissipates, springs across the courtyard with a powerful speed trick nearing his mother's teleportation at this distance, still intent on getting behind Moorn, springing back towards him, and tackling him into that choke.

His face has none of its usual self-conscious amiability. It's cold, focussed, and determined.

Radivishe Moorn's black eyes blaze into green. He'd been about to argue playfull with Mara-kuru, but now a wave of his hand sends her hurtling out of the path of that psionic attack with a yelp. He moves the other way to evade the attack, but in so doing barrels right into Dewei's choke-tackle. The ground does little to soften their impact.

Mara sits up from her landing spot several yards away. Watches, as her nephew becomes the third person in history to convince Radivishe Moorn to concede a fight of any kind.

The instant that happens...Dewei releases him and steps back. His face falls almost immediately away from the agression, almost complete back to its usual, borderline clueless passiveness.

Radivishe Moorn rises, his own features mostly neutral aside from getting his breath back. Mostly. Pride still shines in his bearing, if not his face.

"That's a clever trick, the shield breaker. I applaud your methods, as well. The late hit was splendid." He runs a hand through his longish hair, stalling. "You should know that Ai is losing herself. But you have my permission to attend her games. Not that you needed it."

Dewei's already busy making sure his aunt's okay, contrite. She'd moved. But...he should have looked ahead and seen that, too. She's almost gotten hurt. He looks back over to Moorn even as he dotes on the serinian, though, face immediatly concerned. "'Losing herself?' How do you mean?"

"Pop in on her. See for yourself." The sorcerer takes up his stick, and goes back to inspecting. "She wants to tell you, Dewei. But she won't. She has my stubbornness."

Mara's just smiles and babble. "I'm fine, I am. Go see her, while I brag to your mom that you kicked his ass!"

Dewei nods to Moorn...looks back to Mara, smiles sheepishly. "ARe you sure you're okay, aunt? I'm really sorry...I didn't see that you were about to be there...."

"I'm fine, and you're sweet." Mara grins up at Dewei, eyes twinkling. "Tell Ai I brought pink cookies, okay? I'll tell your mom. Um... I'll bring two boxes. Gabriel likes the pink ones."

Dewei smiles wanly, and nods. "Right. Thank you, Aunt." He hugs her briefly, and then is off for Niven Ai.

---

Dewei appears actually in his room...sighs quietly. He doesn't know whether Ai will simply continue this route until she becomes a lich or archlich...but, really, he's more concerned about her than anything else. He'd be lying if he claimed to not covet her body, but...that's not the most important thing about Ai. Not by a long shot. Ai is Ai. That's what he likes so much about her.

He opens a book, unrolls two scrolls, and generally sets things up to get to work. He's distracted. It takes him awhile to start getting anything accomplished. He does, but...it takes awhile.

It's awhile before anyone shows up to bother Dewei. The hand that knocks upon his door is heavy, though, as Makyon isn't very good at subtle entrances since becoming Felina's pupil.

"It's open. Hi." Dewei has ink covering the fingers of his right hand to about two-thirds of the way up, so he doesn't want to touch the knob. He does reach for a rag set aside for this purpose, though--an ex-shirt that had fallen victim to a spar with Moorn--and stands up.

Makyon pushes it open and steps inside, glancing around. As far as he can remember, this is the first time he's been in Dewei's room on this planet.

"Are you busy, Dewei? I wanted to ask you about some of your dear mother's 'homework'."

"Nothing that I can't easily pick back up later," Dewei notes, smiling.

The room is very simple. There aren't any adornments on the walls, and all of the shelves are strikingly neat and organized...though there isn't tons on them, at this point. About two full shelves' worth. There's a bed, and a couple of simple chairs...and about exactly half the room is totally bare--except for the occasional scorch mark--for casting purposes.

"Good." The slip mage steps inside, looks at Dewei as if about to speak, and apparently changes his mind. "Alright, I lied." His arms cross over his chest. "And I'm not good at it. Mara-kuru told me some things, and I thought I might check into it. What have you been doing today, if I might nose?"

"Ehm...." Dewei's ears are already beginning to redden a tad at the edges, since he knows his aunt as he does. "Well...my normal line of chores, refining a spell set I've been working on, talking to Miss Ai a bit...and I also sparred briefly with Moorn."

"Right. Ai. Has she turned yet?" Makyon leans back against the wall, looking for all the world like someone whose seen pretty much everything there is to see.

He now has Dewei's attention fully. Right. Makyon is the same sort of creature as Ai is becoming. "More often, and more completely, with more trouble going back...you're familiar with this, of course?" He folds his arms once the one hand is clean, ears the odd sort of perked that indicate undivided attention.

"Hey, I was the right hand of an archlich for a long time. You tend to pick up things." The slip mage holds up his hand, waggling his fingers back and forth. "If she's still turning, it means that the malefactor that bit her is still alive somewhere. Well. Alive. You know. Kill it, and its influence will leave her."

Dewei's deep grey eyes widen a little. He's at a loss for words for a moment, but only a moment. Collects himself. "So...will she revert back to as she was before, if this thing is destroyed? Or...like you? Undead, but...whole?"

Makyon's eyes shine with held-back laughter. "Worried about some things, are you? Your mother's power turned her completely from what could be called 'alive'.  I think that her divine blood is the only thing that keeps her skin warm and her heart beating. So if your mother's efforts can be reversed, and the malefactor can be killed, she will be like new. If Felina's alteration can't be undone, she'll end up like me. Which is, I'm sure, a far cry better than a legion-commanding lich."

Dewei's truly blushing at Makyon's "worried" comment, and had even started to sputter a protest...but then just listens like a good boy. He finally nods. "Yes. I'm sure. Okay, so...anything else to add before I hurry off like an idiot and try to get an energy trace to this thing?"

"Yeah. Don't let it bite you." Makyon tips his hat. "Only Shigoriath could fix it if the malefactor couldn't be killed. And if he bit you, you would lose the ability to harm him. Just trust me on that one."

"Right. I'll do that." Dewei stands up straight from where he'd been leaning--if anyone every told him that he postured a little around Makyon, he wouldn't believe them...but they'd be right. "Also, um...don't tell my mother?" Considering how scarred Ting still is on some level after the Shigoriath incidents, and especially considering what happened to Ai, Felina is still outright hostile to the idea of her kids taking on anything but the lowest-level undead.

Makyon snickers a little. "Kidding, right? Your mom could know everything in my mind at half a glance. But I'll do my best."

"Heh...right." Dewei nods. "Well...I'd really like to go and look into that. Is there anythign else you came for, Master Makyon...?"

"Nah, just that. Ai's important, you know. If something happened to her, her father would... well, you know. Now get outta here, you bother me." Makyon pulls open the door, grinning a very un-kaieslike grin.

Dewei grins a little, and nods. "Yeah, yeah...patience, grasshopper. ...don't hit me." He snickers, finishes inspecting the trappings on his sword and checking the blade iteself, and then straps that around his waist, heading for the door. "I guess, I'll see you soon enough, then."

"Hopefully. Though you ought to tell someone where you're going."

"Yeah...well, I'm not positive of that either, myself, even if I have a good idea, until I get a positive trace on that particular malefactor's energy." He thinks a few moments, quietly. "If there's a chance it will help Ai, I'm pretty sure that Moorn would come if I just asked. Don't wanna ask Ting. Mm...are you willing to come?" He looks up to Makyon.

"There's no way I could explain an abrupt absence to your mother without her seeing through it," Makyon answers, "though the spirit is willing. What about your aunt?"

"Mm...that's definitely a thought. Dewei smiles, and nods. "Thanks. So...bye again." And he heads out the door.

"Bye." Makyon follows a little later. He wants Ai restored, sure. But not enough to get involved with the undead again, if he can help it.

When Dewei returns, the first thing he does, again, is to look for his master.

... who is sitting in his chambers in the tower, looking bored while Mara-kuru fusses over his hair. She's working it over with a brush and a pair of smallish scissors, babbling all the while.

"... swear, Gabriel, you could use some color. Wouldn't you look hot blonde?"

Dewei agonizes over the decision for a bit. He really never bothers Moorn in his chambers...especially when he's with Mara. But, this is important. But maybe not urgent. But maybe it is? Who knows? Ai's still unhappy, that makes it pretty urgent in his mind.

The relatively young psychic goes back and forth on this for a minute or so, before finally heading up that way and finally knocking on the door, then waiting quietly.

Mara-kuru's clawed finger taps Dewei on the back of his shoulder. "You can go in, you know. It's just me and him, and whatever's going on in your mind is babbling in my brain!"

Dewei jumps a little. "Ehm...right, Aunt. Thank you." He grins back at her a little, and opens the door.

Radivishe Moorn is still sitting in that chair. His hair has been don up in a collection of braids that almost look like silver dreadlocks, and of course, a Mara special bead is at the end of each one.

"Tell me, Dewei. Does this look as ridiculous as I'm sure it does?"

Dewei can't help but be agape for just a moment. Can't laugh, can't laugh...actually, he stays perfectly contained. More than a certain mother would have in the same situation, to be sure. "Well..it's...certainly a change, and..." he blinks. "Is that purple bead flashing?"

"Ugh. That would explain the stare." Moorn shakes his head, and the beads waver with his hair. "Were it not for her charms, I would..."

"Not do jack shit, buddy," Mara-kuru interrupts him, giggling as she reappears behind him to continue her work.

Moorn just shrugs. "Did you want something, Dewei? I'm indisposed right now, as you can see, but you may as well ask."

The apprentice nods. "Well, it's about Miss Ai, actually. Makyon visited this afternoon and brought up a way that her progression towards becoming a lich could be stopped or even reversed, if my mother can reverse her own magics as well. He said that the malefactor that bit her is still...well...'alive'...which stands to reason. But that destroying it would halt this slow-poison effect and make it reversible. However, I'm not as sure as I'd like to be that I'd be successful in that venture. And it's too important to not complete properly. But, I am sure my aunt will be happy to attest to my having reasons for not asking my sister or my mother to help."

"Is that so... Mara, please finish what you are doing. If this Makyon idiot has even a semblance of truth bubbling out of that worm hole in his face I must apply myself to this." The sorcerer rises after Mara finishes tying a pink ribbon in the back of his hair. With shinies. "Do you know where to find this malefactor?"

Dewei nods. "I know the area it can be found in. I was able to get a small sample of its energy Miss Ai's bite, so once we're there, I should be able to track the specific creature without much problem, and also identify the right one if there are more." He's very serious right now, though the pink ribbon takes the edge off. The seriousness is good. Otherwise he may be getting himself into serious, guffawing trouble right now.

Moorn's expression does a lot to counteract the cute 'do. "Show me the way, then."

Mara grins. "I'll make sure your mom and Tingy Dingy don't know where you are. Mara-Kuru is awfully powerful, you know, especially since Felina got her to apply herself all those years ago. But call for me if you're in trouble, and I'll smack down some lich bitches!"

Dewei grins just a little, and nods. "I will keep that in mind, Aunt. And...thank you." He looks at Moorn, making sure the elder sorceror is ready, before vanishing, bound for the first time in awhile for the Aurian Marsh.

"Come back to me," Mara urges her man, ears drooping. "If you go back to hell... I'll be right behind you, this time."

Moorn just touches her hair, letting it go for now. He doesn't feel like this chat, not now, and vanishes to follow Dewei.

---

When Dewei gets back, he's cautiously hopefully...trying to feel for Ai. What's happening with her back on Niven Ai, what her mood is like. Though...Rosamina is a current concern. He frowns a little at her clothes...saturated with whatever had coated that web. He'd be perfectly willing to bathe her if necessary, but...she probably wouldn't be ocmfortable with that in retrospect. Wonders where his aunt is.

That question is generally not one that needs pondered long. For now, there is very little activity on Niven Ai, which suggests that Ai is either sleeping, or somewhere else.

"Eeeeeew I smell spider guts! Dewei, wipe your feet! Wipe my feet." Mara Kuru is curled up on top of a bookcase, her satellite ears twitching a bit at being awakened. "Oooh. I didn't know you were into goth chicks Dewei. And sticky!"

Dewei grins a little up at his aunt. "Yes, well...she was already hunting the same malefactor we were, and ended up helping. She should be poisoned, by rights, though, though she wasn't acting it. I was wondering if you'd be willing to clean her up and give her a bit of a health inspection? I have a feeling she'd hit me if she found out after the fact that I'd done it..."

Mara stretches for a moment before hopping down from her perch. "Sure thing, and good point." She takes Rosamina from Dewei's arms, looking over her mentally before she ever makes contact. "Whoo. She's a real prize-winner in the freak show, let me tell you." She starts to turn and walk, humming to herself.

Dewei blinks. Is curious as to what she means by that...but this isn't really the time either.

For once, the hybrid has positively no idea what to do with himself. He's positively dying to know what's become of Ai, but doesn't want to awaken her or violate her privacy by snooping when she's asleep. And he's curious about Rosamina, but this isn't the time, either. He ends up wandering around quite aimlessly, occasionally thinking of this or that menial task to do, and then not having the inclination.

Mara kuru returns before too long, looking... very Mara. She's practically, and sometimes literally, bouncing off the walls.

"Oh Dewei, where did you say she was from? I ask because she a really freaky energy signature... it's there, and then it's not. Like something's interrupting it on purpose. And gills. Yeah, gills, on her sides."

"She didn't say and...mm. Well. Is she at least okay? Wasn't poisoned or anything?"

"Nope. Her lungs are black from the gas, but I set some healing spells on 'em and they'll be okay. The poison seemed to burn her skin more than anything."

Dewei smiles, and nods. "Well, that's good, anyway. So...what do you suppose she is, Aunt?"

"A girl," Mara nods. "The gills aren't natural, I don't think. Something's altered her physiology recently, and artificially. I'm not sure what or why or how or who or when! But it doesn't seem like it's hurting her in any way."

"Well...just so long as it's not detrimental, I guess that's her business," Dewei observes. Smiles and nods. "You're good, aunt." He has no idea what to do right now.

---

When Dewei gets back, he's cautiously hopefully...trying to feel for Ai. What's happening with her back on Niven Ai, what her mood is like. Though...Rosamina is a current concern. He frowns a little at her clothes...saturated with whatever had coated that web. He'd be perfectly willing to bathe her if necessary, but...she probably wouldn't be ocmfortable with that in retrospect. Wonders where his aunt is.

That question is generally not one that needs pondered long. For now, there is very little activity on Niven Ai, which suggests that Ai is either sleeping, or somewhere else.

"Eeeeeew I smell spider guts! Dewei, wipe your feet! Wipe my feet." Mara Kuru is curled up on top of a bookcase, her satellite ears twitching a bit at being awakened. "Oooh. I didn't know you were into goth chicks Dewei. And sticky!"

Dewei grins a little up at his aunt. "Yes, well...she was already hunting the same malefactor we were, and ended up helping. She should be poisoned, by rights, though, though she wasn't acting it. I was wondering if you'd be willing to clean her up and give her a bit of a health inspection? I have a feeling she'd hit me if she found out after the fact that I'd done it..."

Mara stretches for a moment before hopping down from her perch. "Sure thing, and good point." She takes Rosamina from Dewei's arms, looking over her mentally before she ever makes contact. "Whoo. She's a real prize-winner in the freak show, let me tell you." She starts to turn and walk, humming to herself.

Dewei blinks. Is curious as to what she means by that...but this isn't really the time either.

For once, the hybrid has positively no idea what to do with himself. He's positively dying to know what's become of Ai, but doesn't want to awaken her or violate her privacy by snooping when she's asleep. And he's curious about Rosamina, but this isn't the time, either. He ends up wandering around quite aimlessly, occasionally thinking of this or that menial task to do, and then not having the inclination.

Mara kuru returns before too long, looking... very Mara. She's practically, and sometimes literally, bouncing off the walls.

"Oh Dewei, where did you say she was from? I ask because she a really freaky energy signature... it's there, and then it's not. Like something's interrupting it on purpose. And gills. Yeah, gills, on her sides."

"She didn't say and...mm. Well. Is she at least okay? Wasn't poisoned or anything?"

"Nope. Her lungs are black from the gas, but I set some healing spells on 'em and they'll be okay. The poison seemed to burn her skin more than anything."

Dewei smiles, and nods. "Well, that's good, anyway. So...what do you suppose she is, Aunt?"

"A girl," Mara nods. "The gills aren't natural, I don't think. Something's altered her physiology recently, and artificially. I'm not sure what or why or how or who or when! But it doesn't seem like it's hurting her in any way."

"Well...just so long as it's not detrimental, I guess that's her business," Dewei observes. Smiles and nods. "You're good, aunt." He has no idea what to do right now.

"I know. So why don't you quit stalling and go see her, eh?" Mara crosses her arms over her chest, a self-expressed model of minimalism. "I'll take care of this chickie. Might do something about that horrible makeup too."

"Heh..." Dewei grins sheepishly, and folds his hands behind his neck. He really is ansy, shifting his weight from foot to foot. "I want to, Aunt." It would be pointless to lie to her about that, she can read him like an open audio book. "But I don't want to wake her up if she's asleep." Also, he's kind of worried about showing up and saying "we did it!" and then it turns out they hadn't...he's not sure he could stand to disappoint Ai so sharply.

Mara nods, and agrees, and nods, and is actually watching a bird outside the window.

Of course, that said, now he's left to agitatedly wait again. He looks out at the bird too, absently.

The bird is a crow, a rather large one, and particularly stately in its stance on a branch outside.

"Isn't that a funny bird," Mara notes, still staring at it. "Hey Dewei. Could you catch that bird, do you think?"

"I don't see why not...do you want me to, then, aunt?" The amicable young psychic looks down to her, ready to do whatever she says.

"Yeah, would you? Be gentle, though." Mara smiles her Mara smile, the one that really indicates little more than one of those 'drinking bird' novelty statues working in her head. In reality, she's just trying to distract Dewei for a bit.

Dewei grins, and nods. "Of course." He appreciates it, actually, even if he doesn't realize she'd done it on purpose.
Given Mara's personality, there's a perfectly legitimate chance that she just wants a crow.

He wanders outside...looks up at it. Then, weaving a calming spell so that the creature isn't frightened away, he starts scaling the tree. Quite easily and effectively, actually. His claws are in their element.

The crow stares at him with passive eyes. The calming spells do take their effect, and though the bird does flap its wings, it does not take off.

About the time Dewei comes even with it, the bird caws once. Twice.

"Security."

Caws again, looking at Dewei as if nothing is out of place at all.

Dewei's standing on all fours on the base of the crow's branch...and stops. Blinks. "Ehm...pardon?"

"Security." The bird tilts its head over in terribly bird-esque fashion. There's nothing apparently unusual about the little thing, save for the one croaked word. It flaps again, and lifts its foreleg to reveal a tied piece of parchment, A Talking Crow's Note.

Dewei carefully reaches out with a claw to loosen the note...is relieved when the bird lets him take it. Looks it over. "Right...I guess we should take you back to Rosamina, then, huh master Cagalagi?" He reaches out to take the crow's feet the one one would normally pick up a large bird without harming it.

Cagalagi hops onto Dewei's hand in a trained fashion, singing -singing- a soft tune. It might well be the vocal virtuoso of the crow world, though that says little for it.

About this time, a soft signature emenates from Niven Ai. Its essence is not unlike that of a healing spell, though there is the decided mark of the dead upon its surface.

Dewei stiffens. His attention shifts immediately away from the crow and over to the change at Niven Ai...just feeling for Ai, whether she's okay.

"Security," the bird points out.

Mara-kuru peeks her head out the window. "Deeewwweeeeei! Where's my bird? And I think Ai just woke up!" Her statement seems to be accurate enough, as little in the way of excess energy accompanies what amounted to a psychic yawn-and-scratch.

Dewei bites his lip. Now he's really ansy. He smiles at his aunt, though, and heads back inside with Cagalaga, step quicker now.

"Spiffy, thanks." Mara accepts it when Dewei gives her the bird. "So now that you've killed a little time, you can git now. I'm going to play with him!"

Dewei grins. "Well..." he holds out the note, too. "He's Miss Rosamina's. His name is Cagalagi."

"Really..." Mara grins at that, too. "Special bird, to travel between planets, don't you think?" She takes the note, reads it quickly. "Let's see if it works? Return, Cagalagi!"

The crow flaps and flutters away, screaming towards the room where Mara had put the pale girl Dewei had brought back. Knocking over three vases in the process.

"Holy hell! I got him! Bye Dewei!" And Mara skitters after the bird.

Dewei snickers, and looks back towards Niven Ai. Right...he takes a deep reath, and hesitantly vanishes that way.

---

When Dewei gets back, he first heads towards where he senses Rosamina's signature, wanting to see that she's all right.

The guest has been settled into Mara-kuru's room, which is decorated much like a hippy smokehouse. Beads and shinies, and all sorts of things adorn this home away from plane.

Rosamina herself lies upon Mara's cot, her hands folded neatly over her diaphragm, sleeping peacefully. Her armor has been removed, but the black clothing remains, reinforcing Mara's notion of her as a 'goth chick'. 


A letter, addressed 'to whoever happens to come here' in Mara's elaborate hand, sits on the dresser.

Dewei is happy to see The visitor sleeping well, and turns his attention to the letter once his psychic sense pokes him that way and he sees it. He opens it with a quiet hand, and unfolds it to read.

"Dear whoever,
     Rosamina is just sleeping, now. She's fine. The gills even went away, so I think that the malefactor haad something to do with her problem. If she wakes up, and wants to talk, talk to her. If she wakes up and doesn't, buzz off! Ask Cagalagi if you have questions. Mara fixed him so he could talk right.

                      Mara-Kuru

Well...that would explain her resistance to some of the malefactor's attacks. Maybe. Other things might, too. Oh well. He looks over to Rosamina once more, folds the letter, and quietly turns to leave.

"Hold it right there asshole!"

Mara has taught Cagalagi well, it seems.

Dewei blinks, and turns to face the...crow. "Pardon?" he inquires quietly.

"That is how you ask someone to wait," Cagalagi croaks, flapping his wings. "Isn't it?"

"Only if you're my Aunt," Dewei notes, finally understanding, and laughing quietly. "'Just a moment,' 'wait,' or 'a moment, please' may all be more appropriate." He smiles a bit. His voice is still soft. "Is there something that I can help you with, Master Calalagi?"

"It's Cagalagi, Wudei. And. Rosamina was asking for you in her sleep. She's a sleeptalker you see. She kept asking for Dewei to get her shoes back." The crow squawks, but his mistress does not stir.

"Pardon, Cagalagi. And...that's a strange request." He blinks. "Her shoes...? Had she lost them?"

"No. But it was a dream. The shoes could mean anything." Cagalagi flutters. "You ought to ask her when she wakes up. She won't be forthcoming, but then, you ought to be able to charm her. You have aminal ears."

Dewei grins a little. "They do help. IT's probably not a good ide to awaken a dreamer, though. I'll just be aware for when she awakens on her own." His voice is still appropriately quiet.

"Caw! Caw! Caaaaaaawww!"

Apparently, Cagalagi has different opinions on the matter. With a gasping start Rosamina's eyes jolt open, wildly searching the room for danger. Her hand slaps at her hip, searching for a blade that isn't there.

Dewei's eyes widen with surprise, and he steps forward quickly, though not too close. He knows how to keep his movements non-threatening. "It's oky, Miss Rosamina, there's no danger. I apologize for awakening you." He bows contritely.

"Ugh... if you cawed like that, I would strangle you," she grumbles to Dewei. "I am up. Why are you here?" The question is pretty blunt, but posed in a manner not unlike Moorn and Ai's characteristic lack of bullshittery.

"I just wanted to check that you were well. I had been about to leave. He glances at a shiny purple string of beads hanging about one inch from his head. "Is everything..suitable, Miss?"

"Where am I?" She ignores the question, still looking around. 

"This is Radivishe Moorn's world. The other fellow from the marsh."

"My sword." She looks at Dewei, and though she tries her best to look amicable, the simple physical color of her eyes leaves them practically chilling to look at.

"It's right here." He'd spotted it earlier. Retrieves it from the desk, and carries it over to her. "Are you feeling all right, Miss Rosamina?"

She takes the blade and buckles it in before uttering even a breath. "Yes, now. My armor?"

Cagalagi squawks. "Mara actually destroyed the armor, as it was badly damaged by the venom."

"I can probably duplicate it, though," Dewei puts in, nodding. "And...my father's an armourer, so either one of you could hit me if I got something wrong." He grins.

"Forget about it." She looks at him, shakes her head at his grin. "I need to get... oh." She blinks. "Home. Nevermind. Do you suppose I could stay here awhile? I do not have a place."

"I don't mind in the least, though it's not really my permission to give. You'd have to ask Moorn...or Mara, since what she wants is worth quite a lot."

"Then I need to speak with someone. Excuse me." Rosamina groans a little bit, sleepy-stiff in getting up. "Where are the facilities here?"

"Two doors to your right. Would you like me to get you some cloths or towels, Miss Rosamina?"

"No." And she walks right past him, or attempts to anyway. Cagalagi squawks.

"She's not too good with people," the bird notes.

Dewei just steps aside and lets her. He looks over to Cagalagi once she's out of earshot, and smiles. "That's okay. The nice thing about being psychic is that you know people's intentions. What she means to put across and what she does, may not be the same, but I get to see both. So...feel free to let me know at any time if there's anything either of you need at some point, Master Cagalagi?"

"We'll need a place to go," the bird squawks. "It's not that she can't remember her planet being blown up, she's just in denial."

Dewei winces, and nods. "Well...I'll look into that, in the weeks ahead, and try to narrow a few that are best for you two to choose from once I know you better. But...something like that..." he looks to the door Rosamina had disappeared through, eyes suddenly empathetically pained... "she'll need some time to recover. And it's probably impossible to say how long...but she does need it." He nods slowly.

"She was messed up before." Cagalagi flaps. "She was an officer, buddy. Badassed, too. But one time her enemy's government was looking for some 'prophesied hero' and put the one they found on the battlefield. A boy. About... ten years old.  Her intel said that the boy was a fated hero and so she attacked him. Killed him, without a struggle." The bird squawks. "He wasn't fated for anything but grade school, but she didn't know that. In the next battle they did the same thing, put a child on the field. That time she refused to hurt him... but... he really was freakishly powerful, and stabbed her through the stomach. Her army lost because of him, and after she healed she was exiled from home. Because she hesitated."

Dewei actually, physically cringes at the story. He nods, after a moment. "Thank you, for telling me... now I know some things to avoid saying or doing. It's...well, it's an awful story, everything is wrong with it. But we can give her a place to heal here, too, in a different way...if not here, then on my family's estate. I'm quite positive that my mother would allow her to stay as long as necessary, once she knew Miss Rosamina's history and situation."

"Just don't tell her I told you," the bird urges him. "She would deny it, anyway. Claims she wanted to travel the worlds and everyone just mistakes her for someone else in her home country. Which is gone."

Dewei nods. "All right. I say that I know, and won't implicate you if it slips." Thinks a moment. "Tell me, Master Cagalagi...why was she hunting a malefactor in the first place? That weapon was specially empowered for it...my first instinct was to think that she had a powerful or skilled caster employing or just backing her."

"Apparently a revenant did it. A guy named Makyon." The bird squawks. "Gave her the blade, paid her pretty well, and showed her the way to that world. It was a while ago. She's been in the marsh for a bit."

"Ahhh..." Dewei smiles a bit. He should have guessed. "That, would explain it." He nods. "Well...is there anything else that you'd deemed pertinent for me to know, do, or not do?"

"Yeah, actually. Got any corn?"

Rosamina returns about then, looking a bit more relaxed than before. Walking straighter, too. "Dewei, was it? Would you mind taking me somewhere I could drink?"

"That's right...and not at all. Did you mean for thirst, or for alcohol?" The question isn't asked at all disdainfully. Although his mom doesn't drink much and he's moderate, himself, he's too accustomed to his aunt and sister to think badly of it.

"Alcohol." Rosamina nods, and holds out her arm. It's bandaged in a few places, though changed fairly recently. "To forget this pain."

Dewei's brow creases a little. "My aunt didn't heal that...?"

Cagalagi squawks. "She did that since."

"Shut up!"

Dewei bites his lip a little. Sensitive subject. Sensitive, sensitive...still. He has to pry, incase it's something that he can help, or needs to get help for. "Ehm...is it a self-perpetuating wound, Miss Rosamina...?" His mother had one of those some time ago, if he recalls, long before she'd met his father.

"About that drink." Rosamina gazes at him, her eyes saying as plainly as her lips ever could that such was no one else's business.

Dewei's silent for a moment. He's not intimidated by her, really, just...deciding whether to push, or not to. Finally... "Well. My aunt has a certain selection here, one or two normal sorts and a number of things in odd colours and flavors...or, I could take us to a bar, if you prefer."

"Here is fine. Cagalagi, come."

The bird hops up from his perch and lands heavily upon her outstretched arm, the uninjured one, croaking excitedly. "She's more fun drunk."

Dewei smiles a little at Cagalagi and then bows slightly to Rosamina. "All right. Right this way, miss."

Rosamina and Cagalagi follow along with Dewei, neither apparently interested in much of anything save for Cagalagi's insistend cawing whenever he sees something shiny.

Deweeeeii.... are you busy? Ai's voice shambles across the psychic spectrum, a bit distorted due to her great physical distance from them.

Dewei is just finishing pouring a drink for Rosamina, and holds it out to her with a smile. Ehm...not extremely, Miss Ai. I could be one within a minutes or two. What can I do for you?

The athletics comission just arrived. I was wondering if you'd like to meet some of the people who have come? I know it is a bad time after such a long day, but... I am not very good at social things. I could use your help.

Rosamina nods her thanks to Dewei, and knocks back the drink. Unlike Mara, she has very little physical reaction to the fire of it, and only seems amused.

I'll be there just as soon as I can, Miss Ai. Promise. He smiles at Rosamina, and sets the bottle beside her. "You can certainly have as much as you like, Miss Rosamina...you know where the bathroom is, and the kitchen is downstairs and towards the north. The side with the lake in the distance." He nods. "I need to take care of something, but feel free to make yourself at home. I'll be back to check whether you need anything soon."

"She wants to thank you, she's just a bitch."

Cagalagi flutters off just in time to avoid a backhand. Rosamina sighs quietly, but does nod to Dewei. "I'll pay for what I drink," she assures him. "I don't need to be watched. So take your time."

"Don't worry about payment, Miss Rosamina. You helped heal Ai, that's important." Dewei smiles and nods. "Let me know if you need anything. I should be able to hear." Bows, and turns to leave.

"A muzzle for the bird, maybe." Mina turns away from him, taking the bottle with her. She has nothing to say, for now.

Dewei nods again, though of course it can't be seen...and then is gone, bound for Raufante. He's about one second two slow in realizing that Rosamina may not be comfortable with people blinking in and out of existance.