18. Night Out
General Summary
Full Scene
The party, minus Siobhan who goes home to change, gathers for dinner at the Inn, and unless anybody makes him converse, the introverted warlock posts up with a plate and a book and is reading/note-taking over dinner.
Ta'lok and Saeldor are long since back from supply shopping at that point, they drop stuff off in their rooms (there'll be time to split things up before they all head out tomorrow afternoon), and join them for food.
Pretty soon everyone's eaten, someone pulls Cypher's nose out of his book, and he begrudgingly puts it away, starts to shoulder the backpack, is gently reminded that it's rude to read at a social visit, and drops it off in his room.
When he comes back, its just Ta'lok and Saeldor. Mirage and Cri are changing.
When they come back downstairs, everyone has something nice to say about their outfits, general "looking good'/wow you can see that from space, huh" from Ta'lok and Saeldor.
He has a momentary, like, eyebrows up, "oh damn" face but unless she prompts him specifically he's quiet.
Mirage has the most shit eating grin. She blows him a kiss over her shoulder on their way to the bar
Mirage is bubbly and excited. Makes Saeldor give her a piggy back ride again, which he's pleased to do because it's fun. Asks when they plan to leave tomorrow, so she can know how hard to go in terms of partying. Compliments all their appearances, even though the guys aren't really dressed up so much as just not wearing travel clothes/armour.
“Guys we are HOT. Hottest adventuring party ever? I think so.”
Sun's going down. City gas lamps are coming on. The streets are just as busy as midday. The Naiad is on a street corner, featuring a sea-nymph holding a foaming pint aloft on the sign. It's not a nice bar, but it's not a dive, either. Wood and stone building, a long bar that curves around the kitchen, bunch of tables and a cleared out space where there's a few bards playing something finger-snappy.
You're not the only group there, there's a handful of people at the bar, most of the other tables are occupied but not all of them. Siobhan is already there, she's gotten them to push two tables together just a couple meters away from the bar to make space for six people to sit.
When Mirage comes in, she makes her turn in a circle, sighs appreciatively, and because their friendship is based on mutually-benign antagonism, looks right at Cypher.
"You're welcome."
To which he just rolls his eyes and takes a seat. "Boss, this is Siobhan, a childhood curse I'm still working out how to shake. Shiv, this is Ta'lok. Saeldor, and you already know Mirage and Cri."
The guys get handshakes that they have to bend a bit for because Shiv's 5'1"
I think she does a long whistle and then just blurts out "Can you benchpress me?"
to which he probably does a kind of short-startled chuckle, and then says it depends how many brews she's buying them
Which I think prompts people to start ordering. Mirage gets something fruity with an umbrella. Cri is going to nurse a sweet mead and then switch to water. Ta'lok and Saeldor are getting beers. Siobhan's doing a black Abenea.
She definitely clocks that Cypher didn't order anything when their drinks arrive and there's none for him. Her reflex is to make a joke like "You space out and forget to order or something?"
To which he'd just reply simply, something like "nope, I'm good." Just not even engaging.
As her drink is set in front of her and she takes a seat, Mirage leans over to Cypher and says “You see any of those childhood bullies in here you let me know. We’ll swipe their wallets and ruin their nights.”
"Okay, I give up. Why are you so sure I was bullied?" Genuinely confused, not upset, but befuddled maybe a little insulted.
“Okay no I’m not certain you were bullied I just want you to know I’m here to defend your HONOR, okay? As your friend and party mate? We’ll get Saeldor to make them feel guilty, Ta’lok will drink them under the table, Cri will make them rethink their place in the universe. It’s perfect! Look, I just you to know I’m READY. That’s all.” She puts her fists up.
"Right." He's looking at you like you're being weird, but Siobhan pulls his attention with yet another question about their adventures, and the conversation moves on.
Mirage doesn't take long to find the dance floor, and Siobhan comes and goes from you on the dance floor; she'll be at the table talking to the guys and when the conversation bores her or starts to be between two or three of them, she wanders back's happy to join her.
Mirage is doing something similar. She social butterflies - bounces from one spot to the next, buys the locals a round, requests a song. Ta'lok and Saeldor make some bar friends between getting cheerfully interrogated by Siobhan. Cypher mostly stays put, sipping on water, looking occasionally like he wishes he had his books, but generally just chilling.
At some point, Siobhan corners him, maybe coming back from the restroom or something, and they have a short, increasingly terse conversation out of earshot of the others. They both look annoyed when they come back, but it passes.
Later, when Cypher, Siobhan, and Ta'lok are at the table chatting, Mirage is just heading over between songs as Siobhan says, "So what's with the..." she gestures at her jaw, where the two long scars interrupt the stubble on his. "There's gotta be a story there, right?
Ta'lok also tunes in. He doesn't know, either. Cypher already had them when he joined the party.
Cypher's deadpan. "Cut myself shaving."
Which Siobhan doesn't buy for a second, she snorts. "With what, a broadsword?"
"Okay fine, it was a knife fight. You should see the other guy." Still dryer than his bar tab.
To which Shiv will roll her eyes and tell him he can just say if he doesn't wanna talk about it.
So Siobhan drops the topic and starts asking Ta'lok about his eye which is a story he's told before and is happy to tell again and BIG MINOTAUR WARRIOR MAN IS TALKING TO ME IN HIS BASS VOICE so Shiv's attention is effectively distracted. But Mirage can see a flicker of smug satisfaction on Cypher's face when she doesn't buy his knife fight story. He's probably just glad she dropped it.
“If you have knife skills you never told me about I’m going to be terribly disappointed, you know.” She murmurs into her glass, giving him a sideways look, smirking to make the tease obvious.
He chuckles, unconsciously scratches the scarred jaw, "I definitely don't. Wouldn't dare step on your toes like that."
Which he starts to say as a like 'you definitely are the knife expert in the rogue/sneak attacks sense' and then he remembers Cri's tower and looks like he wants to eat his actual shoe for bringing up you and knives.
Mirage is kicking herself for bringing jt up too. She looks sad when her eyes drop to his neck.
“Well if you ever want someone to teach you, I’m your girl.”
"Geez, first you're offering to defend my 'honor,' and now you're offering self-defence classes. Whatever I'm doing to put out this impression I better cut it out quick." Half smile, snarking.
She backhands his shoulder and says loudly “THAT IS NOT WHAT I MEANT AND YOU KNOW IT, ASSHOLE”
Whipped heads at the volume, he cringes
"Is this creep bothering you?" Shiv has gotten up and moved behind Mirage, draping her arm over her shoulders.
“My hero.” She gives shiv an exaggerated wink, “Come dance with me, our compatriot is being a bore," she says, eyeing Cypher
"I'm surprised you're not out there," Shiv says, addressing the comment to Cypher/Mika.
"Haven't I endured enough without having to observe your chronic lack of rhythm? It's painful."
“Sounds like a challenge to me. Don’t you think, Siobhan?”
"I think it does!"
His gaze flips between the two of you and the 'oh god they've joined forces' is so real
Mirage leads them back to the dance floor. Unlike the library, Cypher's not needing to be dragged. He's being moderately beligerent, but there's not that cold sweat dread like before.
As they arrive, Mirage taps into the currents of air, redirecting them. She lets it play with Siobhan's hair, Nimbus spreads himself out as a thin fog, low lights glimmering off his condensation. She adds some magical star-motes floating for effect. In short, she makes them look amazing.
Smirking at Cypher, she invites him to put his money where his mouth is.
"Show us what you got."
He takes a second to listen to the music, clock the beat. The band's playing smething percussiony, toe-tappy. but not particularly boisterous.
Siobhan is also antagonizing him in the least actual-aggression way possible, like "Well what're you waiting for mister rhythm master, throwing out insults. If you're going to go around calling me chronically rhythmless you better be able to back it up."
And he lets her go a minute not because of reluctance but with the smug snark you've seen pre-battle before of listening to or watching someone who he knows is digging their own grave
After she's got a decent six feet or so down he'll just grab her hand and step forward in the same motion, putting her into a basic over-head turn to get her in front of him.
The difference between here and the library is immediate, but subtle. Cypher and Siobhan are both in their element, but Shiv's been in hers since they met her. This is the most relaxed, enjoying-myself-for-kicks Mirage has seen Cypher maybe ever. The moves aren't particularly complex or impressive; some simple steps with joined hands, loose in the hips and shoulders, trading off spins and turns. He makes some comment that Mirage can tell is a snark by his face and Shiv's reaction, and she says something back that makes him laugh but not lose a step.
Siobhan's not bad at this but she's hands in the air dancing with my girlfriends spilling my drink kind of dancer, and bouncing off a partner is not her forte. I think he's good at tracking patterns and that helps him keeping a beat but she's missing a few steps, late on a turn, out of synch with the hips, etc. its not cringeworthy, but its a notable difference.
When the song is over, he lets her go, and Siobhan steps off with a huff, muttering about unfair advantages.
Mirage claps. "Bravo, bravo."
"Abrigado, can we agree on her number of left feet, now?"
Shiv rolls her eyes, goes to get another drink as the band strikes up their next tune. Something with more horn, more playful.
“We can agree that you’ve been holding out on me.” Arms crossed. Smirk firmly on her face. “Not that I still couldn’t beat you with my eyes closed but it’s fine.”
"How can I have been holding out if you never asked?" He offers a hand as the music picks up.
Mirage happily takes his hand. “Alright smooth guy, show me your best moves.”
He does. Like before, it's improvised, he doesn't know choreographies, he's not acting like there's an audience, he's just going off of the music's rhythm and playing off whatever Mirage does. He's not trying to make her all blushy or flustered this time, seems like he's genuinely just having fun.
They trade off leading. She dips him at one point, and they share a laugh over it - he's been friends with Siobhan too long to be macho about that kind of thing. Besides, she's light enough for him to return the favour without dropping her. She framed it as a competition, but Mirage is just trying to find a rhythm that works, having fun with it.
The music isn't loud enough to stifle conversation. Mirage is teasing him, he's in a good enough mood to snark back a bit. Compliments her moves.
Comments at some point that he didn't think this would be her style.
“Every style is my style”
"Perfeita," he grins, followed immediately by a switch to something a little faster-paced.
"You asked before if I had lessons or something. Did you? Take lessons, I mean."
“I did. Still not sure I believe you didn't."
A one-shoulder shrug as he moves her into a spin, catching her as she turns the end into a fall.
“Well I’ll give you this, you’re a smooth operator."
Fortunate for him that she is not facing him when he says this, he's composed when she continues.
"My teachers would have loved you. I barely paid attention, if I’m honest.” She squints her nose at him, taking his hand again and leading him backwards, synchronized steps. "Bet you were a straight A fucking student. nerd."
He looks surprised, his head alone moves back an inch or two.
"Mirage, I didn't go to school"
“Wait at all?”
Headshake, bit of a "this wasn't obvious?" kind of look
“And you STILL managed to turn out such a book nerd? Amazing.”
"Libraries are free, I'm just lucky to have lived near one. But no, I told you, I did an apprenticeship. I don't think I'd have been good at school anyway. Shiv studied in Dawnharbour for a year, from what she said it sounds stifling as hell."
She nods, “You’re more a learn as you go kind of guy I take it."
"Pretty much. Though current situations indicate some more practice in forward planning might not have been terrible for me"
“Nah I get it, sometimes the door jams and you have to make a quick escape out the window. Plan as much as you can, but always think on your feet.”
An appreciative smile, "exactly."
He pauses, leaving it there. It's in his face that he's not just thinking about general ways-of-learning when he agrees that sometimes you have to make things up as you go along, but he doesn't say anything.
Mirage decides not to ask. He could reasonably be thinking about a lot of things, he’s a strange and mysterious guy and she could burn out hypothesizing about what he’s thinking until she passes out. So she just shrugs and asks conspiratorially “ do you think Ta’lok is drunk enough yet to come out here on the dance floor?”
He glances over to the table, where at this point the boss is fairly lubricated, and then he looks back at you with your star motes and floating sunset hair and perpetual stirring winds, and if she had any doubt how stunning a figure she cut before those doubts are banished.
But the song ends and he lets go her hands and shrugs with a smile.
"One way to find out."
They head back to the table. Siobhan was nursing her injured pride so she's there too. Saeldor is sampling his friendship gift from Siobhan outside and Cri is out there with him enjoying a break from a socially-dense setting.
Siobhan looks up with a smile that's got a smidge of smug in it. "I was just telling Ta'lok about Lady Mildred"
"Hah!" Cypher sits down with a laugh "She still around, is she?"
"She will never die. Long live the people's lady!"
"Amazing. wait, Mirage I'm going to respectfully guess you're not up to date on Midnight governance"
Ta'lok is looking amused by the story Shiv was spinning so its fair to say he's been caught up.
“An oversight in my education, to be sure.”
"Nah, if you don't live here there's no reason to know."
"Enlighten me”
"Gladly. We can get into the principality and the governor and all that but what you need to know is that this city is co-governed by five-" cheeky giggle from Siobhan "-Lords of Midnight.
"You've got Lord deLyons, who handles militia, policing, security; if you noticed the guards all have lions on their uniforms thats why,"
he's counting off on his fingers, more animated than you'd expect, with very much an "I'm getting to it" tone.
"Lady Voidspark who handles 'cultural enrichment,' Lady Monet who's foreign relations, foreign meaning anyone from outside the city, Lord Margrave who's the imports/exports merchant lord, and finally, Lady Mildred, who is, among other things, completely fictional." He has a huge, shit-eating grin as Siobhan collapses into giggles
"We made her up!" she manages between wheezes.
“Wait WHAT??”
"Gods, how'd that even start again?"
"I don't even remember. I think it was when they were building the airship port, your dad was on overtime for like a month straight"
"Ugh, right, that was brutal. Listen, you don't complain too loud in this town as a rule, and yes I'm serious, but the Lords have one thing and one thing only in common and that's that they're only interested in making themselves richer. It's easy to get sick of it.
"So we started talking like wouldn't it be cool if someone with pull actually gave a shit"
"She started as a joke," Siobhan fills in, "We made her a shape-changer, because obviously she had to be able to hide from the others, who would never let her give their hordes to the masses"
Cypher nods "And then obviously there's no Mildred Manor, so she lives in the undercity, sheltered by her loyal constituents"
"We never thought people would think she was REAL"
“This is the greatest thing I’ve ever heard in my whole fucking life, I'm not even joking.” She lifts her glass. "Cheers to Lady Mildred!"
Cypher's not drinking drinking but you're definitely at least a few hours in and he's got a water he can cheers her with. Shiv too.
"Hear hear!"
"But yea there's like, a kind of a rebel group around her now? They don't get up to much, just like, being pains in the asses in west town, fixing up some of the old smash-houses. It's great. You ask any of them which one's lady Mildred and they all say they are."
Cypher's grinning ear to ear "Amazing. She's got a whole life of her own"
“My mom has been out this way on tour before, always complained about the people running the place. Glad to hear the people of Midnight are doing for themselves.”
"Wait, tour?" Siobhan cocks her head, "She's a singer?"
“Yeah my mom’s a singer in Auria. Comes out this way every so often, always complains about this one bitch.”
Siobhan's eyes get wider, and you notice her volume sinks a decibel when she asks "This bitch really cute and pretty or look like she just came fresh from a funeral"
Cypher/Mika is scanning the crowd the same way he sizes up a battle as she asks this.
Mirage clocks this and is hesitant to explain more, given how public this place is. She feels like her mouth ran away from her.
Cypher changes the subject, asking about city news, noticing places that have closed, etc. it's contrived and he doesn't try to hide that it is
At this point, Ta'lok has gone to get a refill, and this fellow with these absolutely luminious purple eyes is going to walk up and do a theatre-kid kind of bow to Mirage and ask if he can get her next drink. He looks like he's maybe an Eladrin. Some kind of elf, very slender/long limbs, long fingers.
Mirage is intrigued. Cypher usually tunes out when this happens, maybe rolls his eyes if the line is bad, but he seems bothered, like its rubbing him really wrong or he's trying to figure something out, wheels spinning fast.
“You are so sweet to offer," Mirage replies with a smile, " I actually just got this drink. Can I interest you in a dance instead?”
Some distance away, Saeldor comes back inside and finds Ta'lok at the bar, says something in his ear, indicating the stranger at the table. This happens behind Mirage's back.
The stranger smiles with teeth, and is starting to lift a hand toward Mirage, opens his mouth to speak when Cypher interrupts him.
"Hey can I have your name first?"
His face is anything but friendly. Jaw tight, piercing stare like he's trying to pin the stranger in place.
Ta'lok and Saeldor are coming over.
The big purple eyes blink, surprised. "Can you have it? That's an odd way to put it, isn't it? No, I don't think so, but I'll accept a dance from this vision of loveliness, who can call me Jasper if it pleases her" He offers a hand to lead you away from the table.
Cypher stands up "Take it back, Mirage. Right now." He's scowling.
Siobhan looks confused and concerned, "Mika you're being a little paranoid, I'm sure-"
"Shiv, no."
Mirage sees Ta'lok and Saeldor headed over. Cri, too, having followed Saeldor in. Cri is watching the stranger like the bird of prey she resembles. Alert, focused.
Mirage is frozen for a moment. Her buzzed brain is trying to put pieces together. She looks at Cypher, and murmurs "what's wrong?"
"This fucking technicolor dumpster gremlin thinks it's clever is what's happening."
Jasper looks like, offended in a "haha, whats his problem" kind of way at that.
As Ta'lok and Saeldor reach the table, Mirage's attention is focused on Cypher, who is grinding his teeth to powder.
"Cypher?" this from Saeldor, "Friend of yours?"
"“This is Jasper, Saeldor," Mirage says, still watching the warlock, "Jasper, these are my friends and party mates.”
"Ain't no fahking fey bastard a friend of mine." Cypher snaps at nearly the same time, then, with increased urgency, "Mirage, your dance offer, take it back, its goddamn currency to these things."
The light comes on for Mirage. Her eyes widen.
Jasper's smile falls, he kind of sighs, "Well that's a little rude, isn't it."
Then this light of mischief fills her eyes and she flashes Cypher a grin.
“Of course, good saer. A dance you were offered and a dance you shall have, for me and my friends are nothing if not true to our word.”
Alarm flares across Cypher's face.
She gives a theatric bow toward Jasper, and says “Go on ahead, Nimbus. Show this fellow your lightning fast moves.”
Nimbus bounces out from behind her shoulder, performing a deadpan equivalent of the Macarena.
Cypher doesn't sit back down, he collapses. Relief has loosened every joint in his body, but he's still not taking his eyes off "Jasper" for a second.
Jasper observes Nimbus' universe-equivalent of the Macarena politely. Does poetry snaps for it.
"Commendable."
He glances around. Company's increased, and a lot of it is tall/heavy. He taps his chin in a stage-thinker pose.
"I suppose it's time for my exit, then. Catch you later, you gaudy thing," he blows a kiss to Mirage, "Ta!" and leaves
“Gaudy. GAUDY!? Did that creature just call me gaudy!? I’m gonna kill em.”
Cypher's on high alert and his eyebrows jumped at Jas'er's exit line, but for a different reason.
His eyes glaze over, his lips are moving but there's no sound - he's casting something.
Jasper kind of checks himself mid-step, turns around with that literal face-splitting grin. His teeth are pointed.
"Oh my, fascinating stuff. But that was terribly rude, sir. You ought to think of compensation before we meet again."
And with that, he leaves for real. Mirage can see him go through the door but doesn't see him crossing the street or passing before the building through any of the windows.
Cypher puts his face in his hands, drags it back up, looks at Ta'lok.
"I'd honestly rather have been right."
Ta’lok has definitely had a bunch to drink but I think seeing this sobers him up, and he looks at cypher with a stoic expression.
“Time to go, I think.” He rumbles.
I think Saeldor offers to cover the tab, Siobhan looks like she's over her head (she is), but she kind of revives at that. "No way, I'm the one who invited you all out."
She heads to the bar to settle the bill, then returns to check in on Mirage, make sure she's okay. Cypher looks at you to hear the response. He's still pissed off, but it's overshadowed by worry
“I’m fine Siobhan, really. Not the first creep who’s asked me for a dance, won’t be the last.”
Cypher gives a "well she's not wrong" kind of face to your answer.
Siobhan smiles. "Attagirl." She redirects to the group. "It seems like you guys are heading out, so I'll get out of your way. It really was nice to meet all of you. Mika, you better write, you hear me?"
"I hear you, Shiv."
"Siobhan, tonight has been wonderful. Almost completely. We’ll swing by tomorrow on our way out to make our goodbyes." Mirage says. She stands to give the elf a swift hug before she departs.
Siobhan hugs her back, plants a hug on Cypher too who's too pissed off/distracted/freaking out to block it. She says something in his ear before he lets go that makes him whip to look at her before continuing her round of goodbyes.
Mirage turns to Cypher while the others are being good-night-see-you-next-time'd.
“I don’t know how you knew, and I don’t know what that creatures true intentions were. But thank you for warning me.”
"I knew because those godsdamned gremlins are like the fucking plague in north town," he says, venomous, still wound tighter than a spring.
Saeldor makes a face at that. "It's not wise to speak ill of the fair folk."
A bitter laugh. "Listen I'm sure fey in the woods are all daisy-chains and tulip hats and mushroom circles but if you ever met a city fey you'd know the things are worse than rats. 'Catch you later', he says. Anyone here think he wasn't being literal can catch up while I figure out how to melt whatever they have instead of a mind"
"Okay, okay okay." Mirage grabs Cri's hand and moves out the door. The party falls in around her, in defensive marching order without a word. Ta'lok leading, Cri and Cypher flanking Mirage, Saeldor rearguard.
It's dark out, the shadows are deep, there's a thin fog over town. Wind off the bay makes a chill even in the summer temperatures.
Ta'lok asks if they should set a watch, Cypher looks like he wants to agree on principle, Saeldor says he's pretty sure they can't take you unless they get you to agree to go, and you can't do that in your sleep.
Cypher still looks like he'd like a watch on principle.
“Let’s put in a pin in it until we get to our rooms. This area is not secure.” Ta’lok gestures to their surroundings, he’s got his head on a swivel, as does Cypher.
Saeldor will note, sharing the information this time, that there are indeed quite a few fey in this town, most too far off to matter. A few wander close, but none approach. He doesn't think any of them got eyes on the party.
Cypher mutters something about shifting motherfuckers.
As they approach the inn, I think a wave of exhaustion takes over Mirage. The booze wears off, end of the night. And there’s so much she doesn’t get about why everyone is freaking out so she’s just gonna not rock the boat. She's just keeping her eyes open and staying quiet.
They get to their rooms, Saeldor does a fey/fiends/celestials/undead detection check on the one she shares with Cri before they go in (its clear).
“Okay, whenever it’s cool to talk, I have questions.” She says..
Ta'lok nods, and indicates the room he and Saeldor are doubled up in - it being the largest. The party files in. Mirage takes a seat on one of the oversized beds. Cri sits next to her, holding her hand. She’s been quiet this whole time but she’s there.
Ta'lok stands near the door, Saeldor nearby. Cypher paces.
Ta'lok looks at Mirage, wipes a hand down his face, and says, “Go ahead. Ask your questions.”
“Was that…what was that? I don’t think I understand the threat, or perceive one where you all do. Wasn’t it just a dance? Like, I trust you, cypher. I was ready to say no, but I just want to understand.”
"It's never just anything with those fucking things." He's still fuming, but Cypher will force himself to stop pacing and face you.
"I - we, didn't want to stress you out. And I honestly didn't think it was the goddamn fey, but we said before, right? No one here knows what that Amir guy got out of kidnapping you. The best I can figure is nothing - he didn't see that offer coming but he couldn't say no to it. I have a hard time thinking someone like that will stick to a fucking honour system, so I put money on that he'll try again. Probably indirectly. And yeah, it's never just a dance. Did you say where? With who? How long?"
She sighs. “Okay. Right. That’s what I tricked jasper with. Should have thought of that.” She looks back up at him. “How are you so sure this event has anything to do with Amir?”
"Statistics" This from Ta'lok, drawing her gaze.
"The odds two seperate forces are trying to abduct you simultaneously for different reasons are less likely than some connection, however unapparent."
“We’re not willing to entertain the notion that an unconnected fey wanted to entertain itself by playing around with me?”
"We're not willing to dismiss the possibility there's more going on," Ta'lok clarifies, gently as he's able.
"'Catch you later,'" Cypher mutter-quotes.
“Okay. Okay, okay. You’re both a million times smarter than I am so if you say this is worth worrying about, I believe you. Thank you for looking out for me. HOWEVER.” At this she stands a bit straighter and levels her gaze at Ta’lok and Cypher. Her hair whips around a little quicker. Like an oncoming storm, and her eyes go thundercloud dark.
“However well-intentioned, you will not keep information related to my safety from me again. Am I understood?”
"Yes ma'am," sincerely, from Ta'lok.
Cypher looks down, still keyed up, but chastened.
"Yeah. Sorry."
“Apology accepted. I’m lucky to have all of you watching my back.”
"So what's the plan, boss?" Cypher asks.
Ta'lok scratchis his chin. "I still don't see a reason to change it. Whether he's still the one pulling the strings or not, this Amir fellow must be able to shed some light on the original incident. And besides, we already booked the flight."
"We should all get some sleep, then," says Saeldor.
"Rude." - Cypher
Mirage scoffs in spite of herself, gives him a grateful smile.
He returns it.
In looking at him, she says “I did good though, right?”
"You did great. Quick on your feet, right?"
She giggles, a little tired, still a little buzzed “That’s me! And my baby Nimbusssss, the smoothest of us all!”
Nimbus crackles with energy and dances around her face.
At that point Cri gently eases Mirage to her feet (not like, lifting you, but like, a gentle push on your back to be like 'we're standing up now,' and she and Cri and Cypher move into the hall to go to their own rooms.
Mirage is exhausted. As she stumbles to her bed. Cypher says says something to Cri before she follows her in, she doesn't even see it happen.
He tells you both to sleep well, and leaves.
Report Date
10 Mar 2025
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