Arux is agitatedly alert as they head for his companion's house. Yin should be, but "bed" keeps pressing in her thoughts. Does take time to point out this or that to Troix when she remembers, though. Okarthel is kind of a cool place, it really is.

She finally lets out her breath when they reach the door in one piece. She hadn't known she'd been worried, but...apparently so. A key and a code later--there's also a magical check involved--she pushes open the door, feeling generally relieved to be home...although a bit silly and melodramatic to have wanted it so much. "Well...yes. Feel free to make yourselves at home. There are guest bedrooms upstairs and a small kitchen through that door on the other wall." Not for her sake, of course. Guests happen.

"Thank you Yin! Um... do you have a TV?" Troix looks up at her hopefully.

Yin grins a little at the girl. "Sorry, Troix, no...there aren't a lot of TVs in this city. I have internet access, though, if Alou lets you use that."

"No, no, no way Troix is getting onto the Internet again." Alou shakes his head. Troix sticks out her tongue at him and... holy shit if it isn't blue, and long. "Last time, someone signed up for a mail order bride so she would have someone to play with."

Yin cocks an eyebrow, thoroughly amused. "Do you still have it? I think Arux is in the market for...ow!" This from being elbowed lightly. She snickers over his smirk. "Well it's not my fault your applications keep getting rejected."

"Me? I'm not the one with a screen name at 'exoticbrides.com'."

"That was undercover, da...darnit. You assigned me to it!"

Arux snickers. "well, you do know how to strike a pose...."

"Blow me."

He whistles. "I'll request another internet-based assignment for you, then."

Yin looks down to Troix. "You didn't hear most of that, kiddo."

"I did!" Troix smiles. "You told him to blow you."

Alou quite suddenly goes white as a sheet. "I knew you looked familiar, and... uh... no TV, huh?"

Yin winks at the spider, amused. "Mister 'no 'love' for shadow dragons' over there is making it sound worse than it is. The really...colourful...stuff happened when someone Photoshopped my head together with...well, you obviously know, and used my name. I only did the soft stuff." The vampiress smirks. "I don't have nearly that girl's chest anyway, considering that all my vertebrae are intact." Snickers. "I destroyed my poor computer over that incident. Ice can blow things up quite effectively."

"No TV." Arux nods.

Yin smirks at him. "So did you still want to spin a web, Alou?"

"I can. You have a window in your room, right?"

"I do." She nods. "It's whatever you're most comfortable with, really...I have guest rooms, too, but I can accomodate whatever you need."

"Remembering that her current career is 'dragoon'," Arux adds. She smacks him in the back of the head.

Troix looks at each of them in turn. "You guys," she beings, pausing, "are crazy." Hiss, whoosh. "Can I spin a web too, Alou?"

"Not till you're older."

"I'm older than three."

"Not till you're older than ten."

"I am!"

"No you aren't."

"I'm older than ten people who are three."

Yin has to grin. Troix is too bloody smart for her own good, is what she is. "Hey, come on." She flicks Troix's antennae lightly, grinning at her. "Someone smart enough to come up with that line of reasoning knows what he means, smart-alec. You're entirely too clever. You know that, right?"

Troix blinks a little at the touch. Hesitates. "I didn't know that was possible!"

"She can't spin webs until her body's matured. Males can spin them from birth, for some reason that eludes all of us," Alou explains. "Also, you might be careful with those antenna. They're very, uh, sensitive."

Troix wiggles hers, which makes it look as though her hair is standing on its own. 

"Will keep it in mind," Yin notes, nodding. "Besides. I have something to show you while Alou works on a web, Troix." She hadn't, but she'll think of something, and it buys time for the elder spider while keeping the girl happy, anyway.

"You do? What is it?" Troix brightens up at this. New places are cool, but without stuff to do, they're just places.

"You know," Alou notes, "it may not be a horrible idea for me to build a few webs in fortified places, Arux. I can imagine that a spiderweb would give away Yin's position pretty well, but if I put some up as possible bait..." he lets it go.

"Mmm..." the Major considers this. "How quickly can you build a convincing one?"

"A book." Yin smiles at Troix and holds out a hand," though glancing to her dad for permission of course. "It's upstairs in my study."

Troix takes it without looking, though Alou does nod to them.

"I'm pretty good at it. Twenty, twenty-five minutes will look good, but it won't hold any weight. A competent, livable web takes a few hours."

Arux nods. "I may take you up on that, it's a good idea. I know just the spots, too. Our guards should be able to keep the ladies safe for an hour or two, anyway."

"Hey, Troix and I will just kick bums if there's trouble, anyway, right, Troix? Show me that technique of yours again?" Yin inquires as they walk.

Troix, pleased to be the center of attention, does her kicky-trick happily. "Like that! Also this!" And she jumps, quick as a hiccup, and sticks to Yin's wall. Skitters a little, and shakes her finger at an imaginary enemy. "Meanie!"

Yin just smiles a bit, continuing on up the stairs behind Troix. The walls are enormous and bare on this particular one since the decor is dependent on the architecture, so they're really pretty good for skittering.

"Shall we, Arux?" Alou looks to the door. "Troix'll be busy for a bit, it seems."

The dragoon nods, turning to follow after giving directions to the guards who had accompanied them. "Yes. They should be well-protected in any case. Plus, even as things are, Yin could still put up some hell of a shocking fight if it really came down to life and death."

"I don't doubt it. That's one thing dragons are good for. All that brawn." Alou smiles a little at Arux. "She looks good in sheer silk, too. Tuleau was so amused when she saw Yin dressed, it was great." Smiles a little more falsely. "Where to"?

"We have a safe house a few blocks from here." Arux still steps back into a car for the trip; it shouldn' tbe obvious they've come from walking distance. "It was outed, but only in a small circle, wyverns only. They don't know we know, though, so it's still used for low security and occasional high security in non-critical times, just for show. It's one of several places we'd be thought to sequester someone."

Alou gets in, though he's really not too fond of cars. "Right. So, you and Yin right?" Small talk? Maybe.

Arux stiffens the slightest bit. His face may have coloured faintly, too, but it's hard to tell in the light. "I suppose. She's my partner and second-in-command. We've worked closely for years."

Alou tilts his head. "You're fucking, though, right?"

"What? No!" Yin would be cracking up if she were here. Arux rarely loses his composure, so this is quite the act of button pushing. A pause as they head the few blocks to the ex safe house. "I won't deny that there's something there, but it's never been sex. She and I are a lot alike, in a lot of ways. Neither one of us would be willing to leave service or the Aovbi, and neither of us would be willing to jeaopardize the unit itself due to tension between commanders if anything ever went wrong between us."

"... so you haven't asked her, cool. So. Gay?"

"Depends, doing anything later?"

"Spinning a web, wanna spend the night?"

"Sure. Considering both our lines of work, someone will get pictures. We can complement Yin's portfolio." He snickers. The car slow, then stops. "Right then." Steps out, all business the second he hits the open air.

Alou, of course, has learned more or less what he wanted to. Personal interest between Arux and Yin. Either she doesn't know or she doesn't care. He's a coward with women. Manipulation of safe houses and data dropout is common between dragons and Wyverns. Yin can be manipulated with children, and Arux will go along with her. He hopes he never has to use that information, but... he has a funny feeling that Arux might be pretty quick to sell him and Troix out if things get rough.

"Those pillars will be perfect," he notes. "Shall I get right to it?"

Arux nods. "I'll head inside and let the guards know what's going on." And proceeds. Of course it's maintained like an active safe house.

Alou nods. "Great. See you in a bit." He trots over to the pillars and hops up to one, and proceeds to lay the foundation for a faux webrest.

Arux certainly isn't idle while the spider works...he's busily organizing his thoughts on everythign that's happened in the last twenty-four hours...such a damned mess. A few pneumonic notations on a paper, but nothing intelligible until he can most safely transcribe it later.

Alou's just putting the finishing touches on the web. "Ah," he grins, "I think that's gonna do it. Now..."

"Nice work."

He's pretty sure he has a gun. No? Damn! The gun that isn't there is half drawn when he spins around to face the voice, and blinks into the face of an overwhelmingly attractive young woman. He assumes young, of course - she's dressed as a Wyvern Imperial, in lily-patterned black, fitted polymer armor from neck to toe, with the exception of clear polymer around her navel and her sides, just above the waist.

"Uh," he murmurs, typically, "thanks. Here on business?" He wonders if he ought to call for help.

"Pleasure," she answers, soft amber locks falling over one hazel eye, "which is my business. I'm looking for someone named Yin."

Alou raises his voice a little. "Yin? Yin?! Are you serious?" Blinks. "There's no Yin here."

Someone pokes Arux about something going on outside. He's there in a very large hurry, immediately on the defense although not looking it. He should be the one more or less in control of the situation, he hopes. "Can I help you, miss?" Glances up and down, scanning weapons and armor...and face. Wyvern, nice.

She looks him over, admiring his look. Definitely a high ranking dragoon. Kinda cute. Probably an asshole, until one gets to know him.

"You can, if you can help me find Yin Iejir. I have a message for her from Shem." She bows her head a little bit, showing off a gorgeous butterfly-shaped ponytail scrunchie that looks like genuine corundum - ruby, saphhire, and emerald.

Yep. She's got him pegged.

He blinks slowly. Runs the name through his head. Doesn't one of the Graces go by that name? Still, it's jumping to an admittedly supported conclusion. "I'm her immediate commanding officer. I can carry message." He returns the bowed head, just the slightest bit.

"I cannot send it by way of anyone. It is private." She smiles again. Alou's certain that she's had a lot of plastic surgery in her time, but that doesn't make her beauty any less appealing. He'd probably be swayed, if he hadn't just lost his beloved the day before. "I risked my life to come here, Arux." She winks at him. "Please do not let that be in vain."

Arux, on the other hand, has another wildcard keeping his maleness in check. This is some hell of a pretty lady...but she may be threatening the life of the woman he loves. His gut is saying it's not. But he can't take that risk. And then, there's the possible need to move quickly on obtaining whatever information this woman has. If it is from the Graces, it could be critical...and not just to Yin. Considers all this, quiet for several long seconds.

Finally...

"The options that I can offer you are limited, miss. First, I could securely relay your message. Second, I could offer you a place to rest for the evening and meet Yin in a secure location of our choosing tomorrow. Or, finally, you can be stripped of all of your weapons to the satisfaction of our searches, and speak with her tonight."

The woman looks disquieted for a moment. She shrugs a little, though. "Alright. You may have my weapons." She holds up her hands, clasps them behind her head, just below the scrunchy. "By all means, Arux."

The commander nods. "A scanner out here," he notes quietly to the back of his wrist. "Thank you, Miss. By the way, your name...?" This asked as he approaches her, holding out a hand for her sharp-explodey things.

"Adelisa leDonna Omeaux," she quietly answers, as she tugs a pair of cat claws from her scrunchie. She holds them out to him, blades toward herself. Pauses a moment, and reaches behind her to the secure polymer holster where her belt might fit if she had one. She thinks better of it, and turns away from them. "You had better take the shotgun," she purrs, "unless you want me pulling a gun in broad daylight in a Dragon city."

Arux nods. It's a fair concern. He's still wary of trickery, of course--after all, this is what dragons expect from wyverns--and is ready to move as he cautiously steps forward to remove the gun.

Adelisa holds her tongue while Arux takes the weapon. It's not what it looks like at first glance, though-- the barrel is too fat to be a normal shotgun. "Please take care of that," she requests as she turns back around, "that was my mother's."

Arux nods. "I'll keep an eye on it personally. Once everything's gone smoothly and you're ready to depart, you'll get it back." Looks to another dragoon who's come out of the house and nods, and a scanner sensitive on a number of levels sweeps over Adelisa's skin.

It turns up nothing. Arux has already patted her down--a gentleman about it, really--and more or less trusts the reading. Nods. He still isn't thrilled about taking someone to Yin, but...it really could be tantamount. "Alright. We'll go whenever you're ready, Miss Omeaux."

"Thank you. I appreciate your understanding." She looks at Alou, who has been quiet the whole time. "Spider, what has you so quiet?"

"Just wondering where I've seen you before, is all," he answers quietly. She actually blushes a little.

"I'm glad you remembered me, wherever it was. And now, Arux, is a perfect time."

The Major wonders at their interaction. It concerns him on some level, of course...in his line of work--all their line of work--concern and suspicion are more or less a state of being. Regardless...he nods. "Alright. If you could step into the cr, Miss, we'll be on our way."

"Of course." She looks that way. "Ooh... a covert vehicle, lovely. I haven't ridden in a heap in a while." She flows over to the door and sits primly on the seat, smiling benignly as though isn't a Wyvern Imperial riding with a Spider in a Dragon vehicle.

"Just one question," Alou asks Arux once her door is closed. "How the hell does she bend in that outfit?"

Arux shakes his head just before opening the door to get into the car, himself. "The male part of me has been trying to figure that out. And probably expound upon it." Door opens, and he steps into the car as well, beside the wyvern and to the outside.

Alou doesn't really wonder if he's going, too. He wants to, but had better stay, and knows it.

"Careful now, Arux," he warns, "she probably bites."

The dragoon shakes his head a little. "My partner's a vampire. Used to it." Literally. He actually intends for this to happen as soon as he can get minute alone with her. Fresh blood rather than stored, even if she isn't particularly hungry, will expedite her healing.

And, this said, the driver sets off just the few blocks to Yin's house. The wyvern will no doubt understand the reason for the car.

Arux peers up at the house, noting which faint lights are on as he steps out of the car.

Adelisa steps out next to him and, though the ride has been short, she stretches beautifully anyway.

"Mmm... I hope this isn't her house," she groans. "What a place to hide out."

The commander has to smile faintly. "We have a dozen more likely places for her to be than home. Did you think little enough of us enough to look here?" approaches the front door...nothing happens as he turns the lock and steps inside. There are actually door guards at every entrance...but one of each pair is hidden, and the other invisible. The trick is limited to a small, stationary field, nothing like a stealth suit, but it's handy for stakeouts.

"If I was looking for her and didn't want to announce it, this would've been the first place to look." She smiles right back.

"... and that's how you stick to a wall. Go ahead, Yin, you try!" Troix's dangling from the ceiling of course, grinning, her antennae waving around.

Yin smiles faintly up at Troix. She's trying very, very hard to not fall asleep where she sits... until Arux and the other spider get back. "Some other time, Troix. Hey, can you do a handstand up there?" Hears someone new downstairs, not one of the guards. Arux--his step's comfortably familiar--and...someone else. Female for sure, very feminine gait. Or an elf, but that's a whole new can of worms. Jiala, maybe? Step's all wrong for Jatil....

Arux shrugs. He can't really give any of the real reasons without indicating Yin's current weakness. Of course, Adelisa gets to either assume that he's an idiot in charge of the most elite Council dragoon unit on the planet, or that he's hiding something. Her call, he has no preferences. "If you can wait here, Miss Oneaux, I'll retrieve Captain Iejir."

"It's Omeaux, actually, and I can certainly wait. Just tell your guards to stop gawking at me?" Adelisa glances to one side where - she's sure - there's a guard hidden.

He shrugs again. "You're the one with the fancy make-up." Heads upstairs to retrieve his compatriot.

She smiles a little. Like the makeup is what's causing them to check out her butt.

"See? A handstand!" Troix grins a little. "I might fall, though." And she does, though she lands neatly anyway. "Your turn, and... oh, hi!" She looks at Arux as he enters. "Wanna play?"

He blinks. "Maybe later, Troix. Hey, Yin, you have a caller."

She looks up. "Hm? Who?"

"Wyvern. Name's Omeaux. She says she's carrying a message from someone named Shem. Grace?"

"Yeah..." she blinks. So he'd survived...? Thank every living god. She hadn't wanted that on her conscience. "Anything else?" she inquires as she takes a deep, steadying breath, and stands up. Her painkillers have worn off, and she won't take more since she'd like her senses to be a little less impaired.

"We've stripped her weapons and scanned her, which shows clean. Also, she thinks I'm an ass, and I'm inclined to think that she's a very polite, sweet bitch."

Yin smirks a little. "Sounds like your kind of girl, Arux."

"I hang out with you, don't I?"

"Bite me."

"You got that backwards again."

Yin looks up to Troix. "Wait here. She may be nice, but we don't know that, so no peeking whatsoever. Okay?"

"Aww... okay." Troix settles back onto the ceiling, held up by only heaven knows wha, and waits.

Downstairs, Adelisa is winking at the guards she can actually see, toying with them a little to see how they'll react, as she waits.

"Friend or foe?" Arux inquires quiety as he and Yin step into the hall and shut the door behind them, far too softly to be heard from the living room.

Yin shakes her head. "Hard to tell. Inclined to say friend, but I can't be sure."

"Better to show as you are, or get an adrenaline shot?" Different strategic and psychological perks to both of them, for sure.

"Inclined to vote for the latter just because I know how you'll provide it...but I don't think she's here to shoot me, I hope, so let's not."

He nods. The rest of the walk is silent, Yin thoughtful. Arux watches her down the stairs, but she does just fine...keeps a pensive eye on the proceedings as they approach.

Yin looks down to Omeaux when they reach teh visible landing, but doesn't speak until she reaches the floor. "May I help you?"

"There you are," Adelisa pointlessly says, smiling anyway. "I'm Adelisa. I just wanted to thank you in person for helping to save my son's life."

Yin blinks slowly. Oh...kay. Little hamster wheel just stopped. Still...she's extremely relieved to hear that he's okay, which crosses her face just a bit. Not to mention surprise that such a VIP had braved the trip, much less covertly. "Yinxirziji, and...I'm just very relieved that he pulled through," she admits as she approaches. "He wasn't in a good way when I left. Though I question the need to thank me for turning against something I was used to help orchestrate."

"They would've finished him if you weren't there, Yin. I was there, too, but I don't know if I could have stopped them alone." She smiles a bit more. "My children are brilliant, wonderful creatures, but they aren't fighters."

Yin smiles faintly. "If brilliant or wonderful people had to be fighters, we'd be out of a job."

Arux is watching this interplay quietly. "So. You did come halfway around the world. Would you like to sit down?" He smiles a little, and is addressing Adelisa...but it's not her he's worried about.

"I could. I can't stay long, though. There are strange folks looking for me in this city." She smiles a little bit more brightly. "Completely unrelated to you, I am sure. Shall we sit, then?"

Yin nods, and seats herself delicately enough on an elegant loveseat. Arux sits beside her, a respectful distance away. "Ms. Adelisa...can you tell us more about who's searching for you?"

"My father," she's quick to answer. "We Graces are never to leave the tower, and the excuse is that his people are trying to bring me back. Of course, I'm sure that I'm scheduled to have an accident on the way back. Now. Those people are looking for you, too. And I hope you don't mind my luring them to the city."

The dragoons share a glance for a moment before simultaneously looking back to Adelisa. "Are they the ones who arranged the situation at the tower?"

"I don't know, but I assume so. Father has always hated our children." She crosses her legs. "Abominations, he called them."

Yin's gaze clouds a bit at this. After a few moments... "mixed-blooded, yes?"

"No. We're all pure wyvern." Tilts her head a little. "That they are my children and siblings, I suppose, brought that idea about."

Arux blinks. Wow. Unexpected, there.

Either way... "Unusual, but they certainly don't deserve to die for it. It's not like they had any say in the matter, and they hardly seem the worse for it." Yin's answer is only preceded by the shorted of pauses, and isn't hesitant. "Still...it seems like a small thing to start an open war over."

"If it was the only incentive, which we're not sure of, it wouldn't necessarily have come to that," the Major observes. "If the Council could have been convinced wholly that you were at fault and that Grace boy had died, you would have been executed for it as a solid declaration that your actions weren't condoned by Dragonkind, the conspirators could have accepted the 'apology' and that would have been the end of it. Wyverns know dragons just as surely as it's the other way around. They would never have a loyal dragoon killed for carrying out their orders, and a rogue operative isn't a cause for war."

Yin cocks an eyebrow. "Pardon?"

"Why do you think I was so fast to suspend you and pull you off the case?"

"Because you're an ass?"

"And a fine one, but this is more complicated."

"He did that?" Adelisa gazes approvingly at Arux. "He saved your life, then. You would have been a scapegoat even though Shem survived." Pauses. "His father may think of him as a monstrosity, but I love my son. Had I known the hardships my children would have had to endure, I would have taken the poison that father offered me as an alternative to bearing his seed." Again she hesitates. "They will come here, anyway. We can learn a great deal if we capture and interrogate one." She wonders if they're annoyed that she's inserting herself into the situation like this.

Arux looks over to Yin. Until she's uncomfortable.

"Fine, fine," the vampiress grumbles. "Do you know anything about Mediators being involved in this, Miss Omeaux?"

"If someone's trying to manipulate a war, then I'm not surprised in the least." She's a little white as she answers the question, though. "What makes you say that, though?"

"At least two are in town. They claim to be after a rogue third."

"Brandt?"

Yin's mouth twitches.

"Assaulted her earlier, and it was our assumption, yes," Arux affirms. "You know of him?"

"Sure. He's one of yours, working the inside on the Mediators' behalf." She switches crossed legs. "Cute butt."

"I pulled his records. Very decorated. Once recently. He was telling the truth when he said he was a higher rank than me--Lieutenant Colonel--but, of course, isn't directly in our chain of command." Aovbi ranks are deceptively low. She and Arux will never be promoted unless they promote straight out of the unit, and only one general--plus his superiors--can legitimately direct them. Still...Leiutenant Colonel is hard core. "Or...much of anyone's chain of command. Plus, a lot of his stuff's pretty tightly sealed, I couldnt' just peek in on a whim."

Arux raises an eyebrow. "How and when did you 'peek into' any of that? I locked you out of the system hours ago...and what part of 'suspended' isn't clear?"

"The part where 'suspended' tried to stab me with an overcompensating polearm," Yin purrs right back.

"Your system will unravel, Arux. Every great empire has fallen, and the same way. I think Yin's efforts ought to be commended." It occurs to Adelisa to wonder whether she technically outranks them or not. Do dragons have a code of respect for other officers? Or is she always an enemy? "This reminds me. Arux. May I have my weapons back, before he shows up?"

In their eyes, she deserves respect and, yes, defense, because she's a dignitary, socially above them and obligating them to her by the truly strict Draconic societal codes. Not to mention possibly important in this situation. Considering possible ramifications should something happen to her, she fits solidly under 'protect her as you'd guard Dragonkind...because that's exactly what you're doing." But as far as commanding goes on a practical military level... Unit Eleven is a true special forces group in that it functions as a whole with extreme precision, but has a horrid problem with authority from any unsanctioned source.

A shared look. Yin nods a little. "Give them to her, Major. I think she's telling the truth."

Arux nods a little after a moment, carefully taking first the gun from his back and holding it out to Adelisa, butt first.

She takes it, understanding what handing the weapon back means to them perfectly. She holsters it immediately, without pretense; this is not the time for mixed signals. "You should rest, Yin. I think Arux and his guards can defend the place while you do."

Yin nods. She rises, the black-haired dragoon following suit just a moment later...keeping a careful eye on her as he does, of course, before looking back to Adelisa. The vampiress is actually doing better than you'd think for his concern, but...well. "Yes. Everyone being fully functional is a good start. Where will you be, Miss Omeaux?"

"Well. I doubt I'll need protected, but company would be nice. I might stay here, if it is alright, else go back and chat up that marvelous Spider fellow while I wait for Brandt to show his face."

Yin bows her head. "That would be fine. Besides, regardless of whether you need the protection, backup never hurt."

Arux nods a bit. "Our guards know. The non-eleven ones I'll inform. Meanwhile, Yin...you really, really need to rest."

She nods. "If you'll excuse me, Miss Omeaux."

"Please, call me Adelisa. Or Adel, if you prefer. And rest well." The wyvern rises as well, bowing her head a little bit.

Yin nods, again with the little bit of a head bow--mostly because she just really wants to sleep--yawns, and heads that way. Arux excuses himself to follow, noting that he'll be back in a moment, though this isn't unexpected. They likely want a chance to talk things out briefly, alone.

Adelisa watches them walk away, admiring them each in turn. They're an interesting pair, anyway. "I'll just make myself at home, then. Are any of you cuddlers, by chance...?"

Even in the military, men are men, and the silent versions of stutters result.

Upstairs, after getting Troix situated, Yin sits on the bed ans breathes a long sigh. Just...letting go of stuff. Finally admitting to herself how exhausted she is. Everythign will be easier in ten hours.

Arux nods just slightly, as though in agreement with something so unspoken. They're done talking, really, for the moment. He sits beside her on the bed. Brushes back his hair. "Here. It will make you feel better."

"I don't need it, Arux."

"I know that. But it will help you heal and you know it. Besides, for how many serious injuries you've had, you have less in you than you think."

A pause, but of course she gives. A pale hand wraps around the opposite edge of his neck...leans forward, chin tilting. Her fangs sink into his throat. Seconds later, she's more or less lost into a blanket of intense pleasure, grips tightening.

Still, she really doesn't need much. A little less than a minute later, her teeth lift slowly and carefully, a deliciously predatory smile of blissful exhaustion set to the very edges of her mouth. She tilts her head to kiss his jaw lightly, and then sinks to the bed, dozing almost immediately.

The shadow dragoon smiles a touch...lets out his breath, and stands. He carefully helps his dear Yin to get properly situated beneath the coverns, to a quiet, close-eyed sigh of contentment. After a triple-check of all security risks, he ties a handy bandage around his throat as he takes his leave, ordering guards to their places.

He'll be damned if anyone's getting near her.

---

it's some time around midday when Alou shows up at the door to Yin's house, offers the guards an opportunity to walk his plank, and comes looking for Troix. The spiderling, of course, can be found skittering around the walls and asking the dragoon security people every question ever devised.

"It was a surprisingly uneventful night," Adelisa explains, "no gunfights or anything."

"Either we did something the Karma gods like, or they're pulling way back to swing," Arux observes without looking up from where he's working his way through a sea of paperwork concerning this whole situation in various ways.

Yin, for her part, is nowhere to be seen. She hasn't been downstairs yet.

"We had a few visitors last night at the safe house. Not the armored guy, mostly hoods casing the place. Local colors, and everything." 

"Anyone particularly interesting?"

"A few. There were definitely Spiders among them, one in particular that bothered me. A little too observant, you know? Had the thousand yard stare."

Arux nods slowly. "I don't suppose any of them were yours?"

"Nope. I did get wind of something, though." Looks around for Troix, to make sure she's not within earshot. "Take a wild swag at who's taking the blame for the intelligence leak on my end of this situation."

The dragoon looks up. "I'd have to imagine either you or Tuleau." Alou had immediatley come here. It can be played off as treachery. And Tuleau...wel, she won't be able to defend herself.

"Tuleau. Working together with a rogue Dragoon named Yin in a plot to cut off the head of Wyvern society."

The commander just nods. Glances for Troix. And his guards, until he's sure where she is. Looks back to Alou. "Tuleau was killed. Yin was supposed to have been. So it stands to reason. Still...if there was a war instigation attempt, the fact that Yin's being put across as a 'rogue' dragoon all but indicates its abandonment. Makes me wonder what step is next for the mediators. In any case...which networks did you 'get wind of' the misinformation working through?"

"You know I can't tell you that. And don't be absurd. Calling her a rogue is a more subtle way of instigating queries and mudslinging from the wyverns. They'll probably question all of the dragoons to start with. 'Dragons can't control their own anymore?'"

Arux considers this quietly.

"Maybe it's not meant to initiate anything...yet. There are more preparatory steps to any deliberate conflict than just 'first shot,' after all." This voice is Yin's. The dragoon descending the stairs is very...put together. Her hair has been meticulously brushed--at great length, probably--and her elegant, tough girl make-up is impeccable. But, most strikingly...the cool, deep, wickedly perceptive gaze that she's wearing right now is the same Alou had first met her wearing. Before hell had broken loose. Also accounted for is the eternally sarcastic, slightly smug, and nearly seductive smile lurking at the edges of her lips, just waiting for the right moment. Outside of one arm in a sling, she appears to be in perfect health on every level. In an oddly good mood, even. "Arux, I've been thinking...international scrutiny would not only harm the functionality of our unit, but also pressure the Council to take a hard look at us. We could be shut down for the duration of the investigation." She sets a hand on the couch back, standing behind him. Smiles at the company and then looks back down to him. "We would not only be paralyzed, unable to mobilize quickly, but under the circumstances, we may be forced to pull any and all operatives from their assignments, no matter what they're securing."

"If you act in advance it'll be a sign of guilt, you know," Troix pipes up, still dangling from the ceiling. "That's what everyone says when somenoe does something bad in school. If you didn't do anything don't worry cause if you do they'll think it was you!"

Yin smiles up at Troix. "Not far from a good point. Adults don't really stop believing in playground rules when they grow up. They just find ways to be more subtle about it." She smirks.

"What we do need to do is try to pinpoint mediator activity in the city, since those two still haven't contacted us, the Major observes. "I don't need to tell you that if they harm a dragon, Yin, you're as good as dead."

"Well, yeah. But I knew that when I let them pass." She jumps lightly over the back of the couch to sit beside him. Plenty of energy. Landing hurts just a little bit, but she hides this after only the barest of moments. Arux rolls his eyes at it. Yeah, she'd asked for that one.

"We also need to to check all of our latest reports to the General and Council and make sure they're being delivered absolutely to the letter."

"So. Where do we start, then?"

"Getting a cast on your arm. It's a vulnerability."

Yin wrinkles her nose. "You have no sense of priority."

"Excuse me," Alou butts in with the appropriate 'ahem' tone of voice, "but she's right. Unless you have the materials to do it here." He likes Yin, but the sudden image of Arux being curves-blinded at the wrong moment doesn't sit well with him. "Yin is being hunted, after all."

Just about then, a soft knock sounds at the door. A young man who looks every bit the part of a pizza boy stands there, nervously looking at the guards. He bears a letter, addressed to Yin. Of course.

"Don't suppose you're going to let me get that?" The vampiress inquires.

"Of course not."

The person who does answer is about the last person you'd ever suspect would be a member of Unit Eleven. Even if she's technically low on the proverbial totem pole...just to be there sets her as elite of elite dragoons. Not that the pink neck-ribbon does much for this image. "Hi! Letter for us?" Holds out her hand, and smiles sweetly. "And who are you?"

The delivery boy holds out the basic white envelope. "I'm Arn. Er... some chick gave me a wad of cash to bring this letter here." He holds it out. "He's over there." The fellow points over his right shoulder, to a bench where a bald woman in dark glasses sits with crossed legs and a duster. She waves, cheerfully enough, with black-gloved hands.

The pink-bowed woman smiles. "All right, then!" Takes the letter happily. "You understand if we hold onto you for questioning, I'm sure." Pats his head. "Nothing to worry about if you're telling the truth!"

Guards are keeping an eye on the bald-headed woman as pink bow hurries inside to give the letter to Yin, who cracks it open quickly when she hears there's someone outside.

The guy, of course, is livid. Of course he doesn't want to get questioned, but then, it's likely he has no choice in the matter.

The bald woman quietly munches a stick of gum, smiling now and again in the guards' directions. When she sees them take the delivery boy inside, she rises and walks off at a leisurely pace. She knows what she needed to know.

The letter contains only a single sheet of blank paper.

Yin narrows her eyes. Arux does too, and stands. "Yin. Check it for any hidden writing, but be careful with it."

He stands, and heads outside after the bald woman at a fair military clip.

She's alert of course-- the rule might be to terminate threats on sight for all she knows. She walks down a side street between an antique shop and a pizzeria, selecting one that's long enough for Arux to catch up with her about midway.

Arux is similarly leery...but the curled-horned commander just falls into step beside her partway down the alley. "So. Who are you, and why the blank letter delivery?"

"Gonna detain me for sendin' a letter?" She stops walking. This is a good enough spot, surrounded by brick and a narrow passage for several dozen yards in either direction.

"Depends on the answers."

"Maybe you don't get any answers, sunshine."

"Then yes. Are you the sort to insist on making excessive force necessary?"

"If I like ya well enough, dollface, we'll see. Bye!" She lifts her sunglasses a little bit, winks her soft pink eye at him, and then the blue one, and starts walking again.

Arux narrows his eyes, irked. The woman's shadow switches...shift after a moment, attempting to seep over and physically restrain her ankles. He just folds his arms. "Who are you, and why the letter?"

She nearly trips when her ankles are caught. Tugs at them by lifting her knees. "Hey... lemme go! I didn't do anything wrong." Tugs again. "Help! Heeelp!" She shouts at the top of her prodigious lungs, her voice flooding the alley and echoing outside of it.

About three-quarters of the way through the second "help," a sizeable hand clamps over her mouth. "I have no intention of hurting you," Major Fiexnah notes softly. "But if you scream again, I will, and then I will take you somewhere more isolated for interrogation. I ask these questions for a reason: I am very concerned about one of my own, and so I want them answered. Nod if you can do that here."

She does, but slowly. The illusion's just about complete.

"... came from here, c'mon man!" Male voices flow into the alley as a couple of dragon men skid into view. "Hey! What the hell?!"

...full-blooded dragons. Fuck. Respected as he is, Arux is obligated to obey any command they give...so he may be in deep shit. Hand still over her mouth, he turns to look at the two saviors, bowing his head briefly. "Nothing ellicit. This woman has made herself suspect in a very serious investigation. A dozen witnesses will support this observation without any coaching from me upon seeing her. But thank you for the concern."

The bald woman squirms, and screams as loudly as she can with her mouth clamped shut. 

"It's not that we don't believe you," says the first male, obviously the more brave of the two, "but you have to admit it looks pretty bad, Aovbi. What'd she do?"

"One of mine is being pursued by assassins. This woman delivered an apparently blank letter addressed to her several minutes ago, then allowed me to catch up to her but refused to answer any questions about the matter.. I restrained her feet when she moved to leave, and she screamed."

"You detained her for delivering a blank letter? Look, that sounds funny but it's not a crime, man. Just weird." He looks at the woman. Bald, but cute, probably looks like a dream under that coat. "Let her go."

Arux grits his teeth, though this is hard to decipher through a closed mouth. Damn but this was planned well. "It isn't a crime," he protests softly, "but refusing to cooperate with a critical investigation is. She just needs to answer the questions 'who' and 'why' to go." Normally he wouldn't venture to such thin ice, were so much not on the line.

"Dren," the dragon looks to his friend, "get your phone out, get ready to call for help in case the Dragoon turns out to be scum. Aovbi, let her speak and let's see if she's talkative. "

Arux breathes in once, and out once. This is...just, damn. However, he does remove his hand from her mouth, and the restraints dissipate.

The woman lets herself fall to the ground, taking deep, recovering breaths. It actually was sort of hard to breathe with that clamp on. Fucking shadow dragon.

"What's your name, lady?"

She looks at the dragons, not too pitifully. "Embriel. My name's Embriel."

"Okay. So what about this letter, Embriel?" The dragons look at Arux. It didn't seem too tough to get her to speak to them. 

Embriel shakes her head. "Please, it's private..."

Yeah. He gets it. Pissed off as hell, too, though restraining himself as best he can. Lady's a professional something, is what she is.

"If you can't tell us, we can't do anything to help you. This guy will end up dragging you off." The dragon looks at his friend, who shrugs. "Tell us. What was the letter?"

Finally, Embriel pulls off her glasses and lowers her eyes. "It's... transfer paper. You have to heat it to read the message, and... well, it's..."

***

"... it's a love letter?" 

Alou reads the note again, after having convinced all involved that if it's some kind of bomb or plague, Yin shouldn't touch it. It hadn't taken long for him to figure out the delivery system; it's actually fairly common, especially for Spider spies in the cold of the underground.

"Yin," he reads, "I know you don't really know me. We worked together on an adult film a while back, not in the same scene or anything, but I always noticed you. I don't know if you go this way or not, but if you're willing to take a chance I'd love to go out with you sometime." Blinks. "Signed, Embriel. Yiiin? What's this all about?"

Yin blinks. "Well. Ehm. Either I'm being set up...or I have fantastic boobs." Frames these with her hand a second for her own amusement. Smirks. Tries to remember the woman, though. That could mean everything here.

"It was kind of hard to tell, though. She was bald with dark glasses and a duster... but she could have lost her hair, or even shaved her head since you met her." Alou grins. "Put those away, there's a child present."

Troix sticks out her tongue. "I'll have 'em too, you know."

Yin smirks at the girl. "In good time, kiddo." Looks back to Alou. I can't really be sure...I'm trying to place the face, but it was quite awhile ago, and I'd sooner remember dozens of other more relevant pieces of information first. And the timing is awfully convenient. What do you think?"

"What sort of other relevant information?" Alou blinks. Blushes. "Nevermind. I think it's possible that she's who she says. I also think she could've been paid to do this. But maybe she really likes you. If that's the case, I hope Arux goes easy on her."

"He's pretty good at reading situations. But she will be in trouble if she won't talk to him...hopefully it won't come to that.

***

Arux is...well, a bit flabbergasted, but still suspicious as hell. "The timing remains awfully convenient. Also, is a love letter so embarassing that you wouldn't give up the information the first time I threatened to arrest you?"

"If it was a lesbian love letter to someone I've only known briefly, especially since I'm publically straight, yes. Please don't tell anyone," she looks up at them, eyes sparkling with very real emotion. "Please, my family would never forgive me."

The commander sighs. Thinks. "You left contact information in the letter, I assume, Miss Embriel?"

She nods. "My cell number." She holds up a tiny phone, one of those 'the number pad slides out' routines. "Is she in trouble...?"

The Dragons sigh a little, each in turn. "Well. Are you going to let her go now, Aovbi, or do we need to make a phone call?"

Arux is...well, more or less humiliated. Regardless, he won't let himself be shamed into doing his job wrong. "Iejir?" he notes quietly into a small device on the lower part of his left wrist.

After a moment... "Yeah?"

"I assume you've figured out the letter by now. There should be a cell number. Call it for me." He hopes it connects so they can be done with this.

Yin dials.

And a moment later, Embriel's phone rings. She's mortified, or looks it anyway. Looks at Arux, as if needing permission to answer or just let it ring.

"That's enough, Aovbi," the braver dragon growls, "leave her alone. I'm not kidding."

It's not a problem Embriel has to deal with, really...the communication line is still open, and Yin hears enough that the phone cuts off after just one ring.

The commander lets out his breath. Okay, so he really isn't thrilled with the situation. His cheeks have the slightest flush, even. But...that seals the deal, and he's mostly convinced that Embriel is telling the truth. At least they can contact her in any case. He bows to her, lightly but sincerely. "You have my apologies for the mix-up, Miss. You're certainly free to go. What happens next is, as originally intended, simply Captain Iejir's decision."

Embriel stands up, sticks her sunglasses back on her face. "Like she's gonna take a chance on me now? Fuck you, sunshine." Pauses. Looks at him. "I'm sorry. Look, thanks you two," the last she shouts to the dragons, "I'm gonna go home an'... I dunno what I'm gonna do." She takes a few steps back before she turns and walks down the alleyway, still looking mortified.

Dren, the less brave dragon, puts away his phone. "Yup. Half human, half-assed," the other one sighs. "May as well just forget it ever happened, though. Right, Aovbi?"

Arux just watches her go, expression clouded. Looks back to the dragons after a few moments. "I hope so." Ignores the "half-human" part, though biting back an old bitterness to do so. He's pissed, but...still manages to maintain the proper air of respect he's always very strictly sworn to towards any dragonblood. "Was there anything else that you two wanted to say or know?"

"Just stop harassing civilians. 'kay? 'preciate it." And they move to head back to their places of business.

Out of the alley, a few streets down, Embriel turns into a small bakery and sits, ordering a small pastry and coffee. A moment later another woman, dressed identically to her but with a short head of blonde hair, sits at her table without introductions.

"Did you get them?" Embriel quietly asks, not looking up from her coffee.

"Got 'em. Amateur photos of a Dragoon attacking a civilian woman in an alley?" The other woman grins a bit. "C'mon. The papers will eat it up."

Arux sighs, rubbing his temples. Still feels like a set-up. Maybe he's just paranoid, too many years of everyone actually being a spy.

He doubts it. But hey. That's paranoia for you. He turns to head back towards Yin's house, brow furrowed.

"... don't really know, Yin. In my experience, coincidence is always a setup, but what could he do? With those jagoffs standing there, probably fighting hardons at the sight of the girl, he was never going to get to interrogate her." Alou's awfully forthright when Troix's out of the room.

"If they keep their mouths shut and don't go to authorities with reports of dragoon brutality, I'll be happier," Arux observes as he steps back in, shutting the door behind him. "We can't afford that kind of scrutiny right now, when there are just about enough allegations on the table to call the entire unit under severe investigation."

Yin smiles just a little at him, but really has nothing to add. Just a "poor you, that really sucked" kind of look.

"Far be it for me to judge your methods, Arux, but a little discretion might've been a good idea on that one." Alou glances at him, blinking slowly. "Homing devices and such work much better than confrontation."

"Had to get close enough to plant one, the guys at the door didn't have any. Also, it looked like a safe place for an interrogation. She wasn't initially moving like someone willing to call public attention to herself." Sighs. "Nevermind. It happened, I'll keep it in mind in whatever comes next."

"We were set up for something," Yin reassures from where she's busily setting her own arm in plaster. "It was a simple setup, but pretty well executed. We'll get past it, stop worrying."

"There're all sorts of things we could be looking at," Alou continues. "Something as simple as throwing you off guard if there's a next time. Maybe someone cased Arux. Maybe they just wanted to know Yin was actually here, and this woman knows that for a fact now. Maybe Yin really does have a secret lady admirer. Moving you seems paramount, though, Yin." Alou scratches his chin. "Or. Dammit. It would be so nice to know what people actually WANT with Yin."

"It is getting puzzling," Yin acknowledges as she finishes up what she's doing and wipes her free hand on a weighted-down towel. "I've been trying to come up with anything double-top-ultra-mega secret that I've learned in the past couple of days, but I'm drawing a blank."

"Alou's right in any case, Yin," Arux nods. "It's time to move to one of the secure complexes, right now. I'll get everyone moving." And steps off to do just that.

"Better scout the area first, Arux," Alou calls, "in case someone wants to harm her en route. That's when I'd do it, if I were in their position." He crosses the room to find a place to sit. Much unlike Troix, Alou isn't too fond of wall-sticking in conversational proximity. "Yin. Would you mind if I did some digging about this Embriel woman? I know I'm technically out of my jurisdiction since my presence is known here, but I think some background might help. How about it?"

"Can't officially give you permission... but off the record, I'd appreciate it. Arux?"

"Didn't hear a thing."

"Great. Troix's with Adelisa. She's not a normal kid, Arux, and she won't need much supervision, but try to keep her safe for me." He looks at Yin. "And you, keep out of trouble. I raised you better than that."

Yin is inspecting her nails. "Where did you go wrong, anyway?"

"I guess when I let you get into pornography without getting your autograph first." Alou tips an imaginary hat. "I'm out. I'll be back when I found out about this lady." And he heads for the door, perfectly complacent that he's about to be useful.

A feeling the increasingly restless Yin understand well, to be sure. Regardless, a few orders later, two Aovbi scouts go on ahead, scanning carefully for any signs of trouble while the two commanders put their heads together and plan.

Troix wanders downstairs a while later, leaving a played-to-exhaustion Adelisa napping on a chair upstairs. The spiderling crawls onto the back of Yin's couch and sits quietly, antennae waving about.

"That lady from the plane is outside, Yin," she reports, "I saw her out the window."

Yin blinks slowly, and nods. "All right. Thanks Troix." Smiles at the girl, ruffles her hair just to be an ass, and heads over to the Major, reporting this quickly. Followed by... "I want to be the one to talk to them."

"Yin..."

"I let them in." She glares. "My ass on the line. And don't even think about 'okay, we'll go together.' Eleven would flounder for at least a week if something were to happen to both of us at the same time."

"Fine. I'll set up a sniper."

"They may figure it out, no matter how discreet."

"If they're actually on our side, they'll understand. Take Jatil to cover your back. And be careful, right?"

Yin nods. Smiles, squeezes his hand, and--grabbing the girl with the pink neck-bow to take with her as ordered--heads outside, cautious and looking for the Mediators.

Outside, sitting on the same bench Embriel had occupied earlier, Martyr's stealth suit flickers and grows opaque when she sees Yin approaching, and she allows a cool smile that's only barely perceptible through her facemask.

"I'm glad to see you're safe, Yin. You wouldn't believe how many assassins Never and I have intercepted, heading to your position."

"Probably not," Yin acknowledges. "Since I really have no idea what this is all about." Intercepting assassins? That's not exactly necessary to taking down a rogue mediator. "Though I must say I'm relieved to see you again."

"Apparently you're quite the commodity these days. Wyverns, Spiders, even a few rogue Dragons have been casing the safe houses where your friend built his webs. Clever man, built them in different stages of completion. No one's sure which one you've been to most recently." Martyr crosses her legs. "Devil of a time finding you. We were casing the house when the little spider saw me."

"Troix and her dad and a handy pair, yes." Yin nods once. "So. You've found me. Now what?"

"We vanished the insider. Turns out to be a Dragon, fairly high ranking civil officer. We're following the chain now, but Never thought we should bring you documentation to prove his involvement in the situation." She reaches behind her back, and slowly produces a manila envelope stuffed full of thick paper. "We have photographs of him meeting with Revelier Gaspard, the father figure of the Three Wyvern Graces and the primary suspect in this instigated uprising. He's also the person targeting you for elimination."

Yin's cautious in taking the envelope and cracking it open, of course, scrutinizing Martyr's reactions as she bends open the seal...understandably, really. Blinks slowly when she sees what's inside. "That is...pretty conclusive evidence," she notes, blinking. It's not everything. But further proof is probably lodged in the various other documents around. Looks back up to the Mediator after a few moments, though. "I do have a question. Repelling assassins? Delivering proof of conspiracy when the situation could have been disarmed, anyway? Please don't take me for ungrateful, but isn't that a bit above and beyond your normal job descriptions?

Martyr shifts her position somewhat. Glances up to the roof of the house.

Up there, a sound like the whiff of a paper fan sounds a bit behind Arux's sniper. Never drapes an arm over his shoulder, pressing a chilled knife blade, flat end first, to his throat.

"Hello, sugar," the Mediator whispers, "finger off the trigger, and keep quiet."

Down below, Martyr gazes at Yin. "We felt we owed you for sparing our lives on the plane. One of us may have escaped, but... I'm glad it didn't come to that."

Yin half-glances towards something going on on the roof. Wonders, worries, but...the sounds were so faint, she can honestly write them off to a paranoid imagination.

The startled sniper weighs his options briefly, then grits his teeth. Nah. The grip on his shoulder is entirely too perfect, he's been had. Finger leave the trigger area quite grudgingly, and he's ready to fight if Never gives him half an opening. For someone who considers himself elite, it's hell of a blow to the ego.

"Well...thanks." Yin smiles slightly, and nods once. "So. Would you say things are about wrapped up?"

"You're still in danger. That man, Brandt, proved more than capable of fighting us off, and I'm afraid he's more interested in defaming the Dragoons than you personally. Still, we know he's working for Revilier. Keep your eyes open." She stands. "Never, let's go."

On the roof, the blade leaves the sniper's throat. "Keep it," Never whispers, "I almost made you famous today." And he moves to leap off the edge of the building, still silent as a ghost.

The sniper, for his part, does have enough presence of mind to not instigate anything. Just seethes, and is quick to take up the gun properly again should it be made necessary.

Yin just nods. She's sure she won't see them again, at least not anytime soon. Still...defaming Dragoons? Embriel. Waits until the stealth suits fade them from her sight again, and then turns to head inside.

"Toldja," Troix beams when Yin returns with Jatiel. "Wonder why she wears a sock on her head, though?"

"Because she's tricky." Yin grins at Troix. "Thanks for the heads-up, Kiddo." Tosses the manilla envelope down in front of Arux. He pauses--he's just glad Yin's okay--and slips the envelope's contents out. His reaction is much the same as his contemporary's: eyebrow up. "This is...well. It needs to be analyzed and confirmed. But...well. Damn."

"Yeah." She smiles a bit. "We're still going to have quite a time explaining away where we got it, since their presence was still ilicit."

"Illicit, and quite so, but your instincts were right about them, which gives us a little bit of more leverage, anyway." Hands a couple of photos to someone standing nearby. "Copy. Digital to secure network c, at least three hard copies as well. Then get the original analyzed for authenticity. The rest of you..." begins assigning various statements of their newly-forming case around the room for that person to prove the veracity of.

"Did they explain anything about your role in the situation, Yin?" Adelisa, looking more than a little fatigued still, asks from the stairs.

"More or less...mostly less. It was noted that the remaining guy is more interested in defaming dragoons in general than in me, but my gut still says it was personal to some extent, after our confrontation." Yin looks up towards her. "You look ready for another few hours' sleep."

"I'm sorry. I have nightmares, so I'm not as ready for more sleep as I look." Adelisa leans against the wall. Taps at it with one finger, idly. "Have you two spoken to your superiors about what's going on?"

"I have," Arux recalls ruefully. "Luckily, I've been able to keep Yin out of it so far on the grounds that her location shouldn't be exposed. The excuse will only hold for so long, but hopefully we'll have a much stronger case in her and Eleven's defense before it breaks open."

"Do you think if I testified for her, it would help?" Adelisa was there, after all, and is definitely an authority figure despite her mild intelligence.

"If I think it will closer to the fact, I'll take you up on that if it's an offer." Arux smiles at her. Looks back to Yin. "Meanwhile, the scouts didn't turn up anything en route to the complex. Time to get you a bit more secure again, Aussiry." Whitey.

"How are you going to do that? Doesn't it present a vulnerability?" Adelisa's not smart, no, but she knows her combat.

"Sure. But so does staying here. It's not a fortress, and as top-notch as Alou's misdirection was, anyone who's actively looking for her enough to attack a short and discreet transit will track her down in no time. We'd better to be somewhere defensible." Holds a bracelet out to Yin.

She blinks. "I hate these things."

"Right, right, rather fight than hide, blah blah...just put it on. That's an order."

She glares at him, but grudgingly snaps it onto her wrist...and, over the course of a few seconds, her appearance changes drastically. Facial features shift just slightly enough to make her tough to reconize, horn configuration changes, hair becomes a deep purple. She holds out her hand. "Ugh. I have fat-fingers!"

"Your butt's kinda big too," a bouncy Troix notes. "What did Alou call that? Cushion for pushin!"

Yin smirks at the little spider. "Yeah, yeah. At least I can lose it in one second flat. Quite the diet program, there."

"Bad for you to do that. Lose too much and your body makes ketones and gives you cancer." Troix nods. "That's what Mommy said."

"Your mom's a smart lady." A few seconds later, Yin pulls off the bracelet, shimmering back to her carefully-sculpted real self. "No."

"Pardon?"

"Hell no. Arux, this is overkill. Between you and me, we could take pretty much anyone under the sun, not to mention all the other security, and that's only if we get caught. I may be short an arm, but I'm otherwise in pretty good health. It will be fine as it is."

---

Luckily enough, she turns out to be right, to an extent...or at least uncontested. For one reason or another, the next big attack never comes.