pegunicent (pegunicent) wrote in rp_prompts, @ 2008-12-21 09:30:00 |
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Entry tags: | ladynero:pegunicent:tb:vs |
06. Quiet
Title: Waking the Neighbors
Authors: ladynero, pegunicent
Characters: Abel Nightroad, Sydney Losstarot
Fandom: Trinity Blood, Vagrant Story
Theme Set: Ten Set 03
Theme(s): Quiet
Warnings and Notes: Post-Game Vagrant Story setting, during the Armageddon of Trinity Blood. Complete crack and half naked men of faith.
Pegunicent: He'd been asleep for ages, cradled in the gentle hold of the Dark deep in the bowels of his forgotten city. Lifetimes had past since the fall of Lea Monde and Ashley Riot's battle for the heretical cult leader. Riot was doubtlessly pyreflies now, and there was little enough left of the Gran Grimiore to contain the Dark. It had spread it's trendles over the world once more, breathing magic and wonder and death back into the feeble souls of men. Free of the city's binding walls, the Dark had no need of Sydney, and let him sleep as reward for endless devotion. But as powerful a force as the Dark was, it still held a fondness for the remnants of Lea Monde, and when the ancient bones of the city were disturbed, it woke up its vessel.
"What in Iocus's pretty pink panties is going on in here!?!"
Ladynero: Abel snarled and dodged the vampire's attack, twirling his scythe and beheading the idiot with an almost sigh of relief. He was tired, thirsty, hungry, and needed a good shower. He knew when he returned to the base, he'd be stuck in a debriefing, might be lucky enough to get a bottle of water, a sandwich, and a cold shower before being thrown out on another mission. Why the idiot vampire had decided to come to a small island that only had ruins on it was beyond Abel, but he was only a weapon. He snorted at that and shifted back to his human form, leaning against one of the crumbling ruins to rest a bit.
Pegunicent: Sydney stepped over a fresh corpse and followed a trail of blood to the ruins of his old Cathedral's anti-chamber. He studied the changes time had wrought on the place with a disinterested air. Dust and rubble. The great Gray City dust and rubble. Even the souls given up to the Dark had gone silent with time, until only the faintest ghost of their wails echoed in stone. "If you are entirely finished with redecorating, would you care to explain *what* exactly you are doing in my city?" he flicked a claw and the ancient glowstones lit with faint blue sparkles and bright warm light.
Ladynero: He managed to find the energy to straighten and stare at the new comer with a serious eye. Arms encased in a silvery metal which meant he wasn't a vampire unless the metal was steel or titanium, but it seemed too pure for that. The fact that the only other things the man was wearing were pants open in the front and boots meant he was hardly protected. Then the man flicked a finger and lights appeared. Abel stared at him with a faint frown. "Are you a witch with the vampires?" All intelligence reports had the island deserted while other reports had groups of witches joining the vampires.
Pegunicent: Sydney arched a brow at the child. Pale, underfed, and reeking of the Dark. "I am Sydney Losstarot, the Master of Lea Monde." He folded his arms over his chest and tapped his claws idly, the sliver chiming sweetly. "It's only polite when invading another's home to introduce yourself child." He ignored the question as irrelevant at the moment.
Ladynero: Silver. That was silver striking silver. Not a vampire. "What is Lea Monde?" He would not give up any information until he knew whose side this Losstarot was on.
Pegunicent: His other brow rose and he made a grand sweeping gesture with one hand, claws fanning wide. "*This* is Lea Monde. The Great Gray City. All of this from the sea to the mainland belongs to the Graylands and while it may be in a grand state of dis-repair, it is still *mine*. As it will be until the sea reclaims it all as ashes on the wind."
Ladynero: He tilted his head, staring at the man. Witch or not, he was clearly insane. "My apologies for invading your home, but I had a task to take care of." He nodded at him and forced himself to walk out of the ruins. He needed to get to the rendezvous spot for pick up.
Pegunicent: Sydney followed the silent steps of his boots not even stirring the ancient dust. "And what task exactly was that? The dispatch of a singular Cold One? Hardly something to warrant waking me up." He spoke to both the child, and the Dark that dwelt within and about them. Something about this one had the Dark sitting up and taking notice, like a hound who's nose had scented fresh rabbit while it dreamed. "And you still have not properly introduced yourself. Have manners been forgotten entirely in this age?"
Ladynero: Abel stopped and turned to face Losstarot. "You are an unknown to me. It is tactically unsound to provide information to a possible enemy."
Pegunicent: "Tactically unsound? You're a soldier then? How very interesting. I knew war would come eventually but I had thought I would get to sleep peacefully through it." He sighed and dismissed the nebulous wish. The Dark was awake, and he was its servant, therefore he was awake and had to make the best of it. "I have never understood the minds of soldiers, the dedication to following anothers directions regardless of cost to self." He looked the child over speculatively. "You are entirely too pale and thin. As your host I can not send you on your way in that condition. This way please." striding past the child he motioned for the boy to follow him across dust and grassy ruins.
Ladynero: He narrowed his eyes at the man, curiosity warring with duty. But he supposed he should check out more of the island in case this was part of a larger set up. If this Losstarot thought to imprison or entrap him, the man would find out exactly what sort of soldier he was. Warily, he followed, eyes flickering everywhere to take everything in.
Pegunicent: The wine cellars were lost to the ages and all that remained were unstable catacombs and sprinklings of glass, but it took barely a whisper of power to peel back the centuries and restore a single room. Well, perhaps more than a whisper, he'd gotten out of practice it seemed. Thankfully transmutation was an art that one never really forgot. "Alchemists and their equivalent trade. Hmph." A minor incantation and he had a small feast where before had been bones and earth. A table, some silverware, and a glowstone and he felt slightly more civilized. "Much better."
Ladynero: His eyes narrowed even more at this display of talent. A witch of some power then. His stomach rumbled loudly at the smell of the food, but he knew better than to accept food he had no idea where it came from.
Pegunicent: "It's perfectly safe. I'd demonstrate, but I doubt you'd find that sufficient." Sydney conjured a chair and sat, a wry grin in place. "Just because *you* have never been taught the protocols of courtesy does not relieve me from adhering to them. A guest must be treated with all honor and respect, or it is a shame to the host. You are hungry, therefore I shall feed you. You are tired, so you shall have a place to rest. Surely even in this age and with a war going on, you have heard of the manners to be bestowed on travelers?"
Ladynero: He hesitated inside the door, but had to shake his head. "What does a weapon need with manners?"
Pegunicent: Sydney looked at him in genuine surprise. "Weapon? To whom? You are alive, aren't you? You breathe, you bleed, you feel? You are as alive as I, a bit more so in point of fact, so therefore you are a person. A person who enters anothers home, invited or not is a guest. Guests are to be treated with honor and respect. Honestly, what era of stupidity has the world descended into?" He tsked and frowned, prodding at the Dark to tell him of what he'd obviously missed.
Ladynero: He flushed and then paled, looking away quickly as he realized what he had let slip. He had to leave before he said something else that would get him punished more severely than a few lashings. He whirled around, determined to leave. Perhaps he could avoid the lashes if he omitted that little slip from his report. The Sargent always managed to catch him across his wing scars, making them hurt even more.
Pegunicent: Sydney flickered, appearing in front of the boy with his arms crossed and a scowl in place. "You are incredibly stubborn aren't you? You're hungry yet you refuse food. You're tired but won't rest. You're intelligent and wary but won't ask questions. I can see I'm going to have to sort this out more forcibly." He closed his eyes a moment and whispered, reaching down into the sleeping ruins to wake it's denizens. Only ghosts answered him, their souls flimsy, transparent things. Even the dragons were gone, lives spent to pyrefly motes. Lea Monde moaned it's losses.
Ladynero: He backed up, eyes flickering around him at the transparent things appeared. It was a trap. With a tired almost reluctance, he shifted to his Crusnik form, summoning his scythe to fight his way out. And the food had smelled so good too.
Pegunicent: He listened to the moans and cries of the ghosts that remained, but none held any knowledge of importance and with a huff he dismissed them. The only recent dead around were the Cold One's the boy had killed. "Oh please, don't be so dramatic. If I was going to attack you I'd have done so from the outset for waking me up." He gave the child a glare then turned his back on him, the black Rood Inverse once more riding his spine, though Guildenstern's scar remained stretched upon his hide. The bloody corpses got a wrinkled moue of disgust before he reached out and wrested their souls free for interrogation. "You really should eat something. If you keep expending energy like that you're going to make yourself sick."
Ladynero: His eyes widened farther as Losstarot did... something to the dead vampires and pulled out more transparent things. He had his orders, but the man hadn't attacked him, had offered food and rest. He gripped his scythe tighter, confused and uncertain. Anyone who could make a meal like that appear so real had to be powerful, but could Abel take him?
Pegunicent: He cocked his head to the side as he listened to the babbling of the terrified souls. Those newly dead were always only half understandable. Too much afraid and in denial to be of real use. The ones with no real ties to the Dark were the worst. Not only were their deaths messy, but they held the most terror of the unknown. Of the Dark itself. "Yes, yes, get to the point." he muttered, half his mind tuned into the whispers of the Dark and one ear open for the movement of their young guest. "Ah. Finally, some things begin to make sense. You really have made a mess of things haven't you." he muttered to the Dark, feeling it chortle back at him in amusement. "This is going to take either a delicate touch to fix, or a hammer to remake."
Ladynero: He didn't realize he was backing up until he ran into a very solid wall. That got a small sound of surprise and confusion out of him. Was this some trick of his mind brought about by too little sleep? He had heard that humans would hallucinate if they didn't received enough sleep, but what was too little sleep for him?
Pegunicent: With another dismissive flick of a claw, he Banished the souls of the 'vampires' and their physical remains, sighing at the cleansing fire. "Now then, since I am more aware of the situation..." He turned and blinked at the cowering youth. "What ever is the matter with you?"
Ladynero: "Doesn't make sense," he blurted out, still staring at him with surprise and confusion even though the confusion was growing. What sort of witch was the man and what did he want with Abel? Should he follow through with his mission which was to remove the vampires and their allies from the island if Losstarot was an ally of the vampires? Could he even win against someone who appeared as powerful as Losstarot?
Pegunicent: "Few things in life ever truly do. What in particular has you in a quandary?" He asked, arms crossing over his chest once more. It was a habitual stance, one that kept the razor edges of his claws safely turned towards himself.
Ladynero: "What sort of witch are you? What do you want with me? Are you an ally or an enemy of the humans?" he blurted out, nervously tightening his grip on his scythe.
Pegunicent: He sniffed, giving the child an imperious look. "*I* am no 'witch'." He spat the word out with a look of disgust. "I am the Prophet of Mullenkamp, the Heir to the Dark and the deceiver of fools, but I am no mere 'witch'. Are *you* a mere 'vampire'?" He asked pointedly.
Ladynero: Biting his lip with his fangs, he decided to take a chance. "Commander Abel Nightroad, designation Crusnik 02, Red Mars Project. Date of birth 10-31-2089, current date 01-13-2092," he rattled off, staring at the man.
Pegunicent: He sighed. "A simple 'no' would have sufficed as answer." Flicking a claw he turned the name over in his mind. "Abel. From Ay-bel, meaning 'breath' or 'meadow'. A strange name for a soldier. Still, a good name. The dates mean nothing to me child, your calendar is unfamiliar." Red Mars? Crusnik? "Aren't you rather alone to be a commander? Where are your troops?"
Ladynero: "Why should I have troops?" He straightened a bit more. "And the scientists thought it amusing to name my twin and I after the first sons in the Bible. Cain the Murderer and Abel the Innocent."
Pegunicent: "If you are a commander without troops, then what exactly do you command? It seems a strange title to bestow." He shrugged. Armies and their workings had never been his problem to deal with. "Bible? I'm afraid I'm not familiar with that text." He sighed heavily. "I've missed much."
Ladynero: He sighed, feeling ancient for being only two years old. "A title as hollow as a bird's bone," he confessed, dismissing his scythe and returning to his human form, leaning heavily against the wall behind him. "Give it time. I'm sure you'll be caught up on everything in no time, but if you want a religious story full of contradictions that people take for the gospel truth, read the Bible."
Pegunicent: He snorted. "I'd rather spend my time in more useful pursuits. Just because one has all the time in the world doesn't mean one should waste it on utter nonsense." He looked at Abel with concern and tsked again. "Entirely too stubborn. You remind me of a certain Riskbreaker. Come. You'll be of no good to anyone in that condition. Food, drink and rest are the least of what you require and I can supply in spades."
Ladynero: He followed him over to the table. "I should report in," he protested weakly but a larger part was urging him to forget about the war for a while, eat his fill, and get some rest before he keeled over in exhaustion.
Pegunicent: "I highly doubt this war will cease while you take a respite." He stated blithely, re-heating what had grown cold with a touch of will. "A body can not live on duty alone, especially a growing one. So long as you are my guest, no harm shall come to you here." he settled back on his chair and gestured for Abel to dig in, eyes closing as he fell into a meditative mind, reaching out more slowly to connect with the Dark and feel the connections from the power to the rest of the world. He had much to learn and very little time to acquire the knowledge.
Ladynero: He slowly ate everything on his plate, not out of paranoia of a trap, but out of caution. He had been running on so little food that he didn't want to get sick now that he had more than enough. He wanted to believe that Losstarot wouldn't turn on him or even be able to protect him, but he found that hope too fragile for him to hold.
Pegunicent: "This war is completely unnecessary isn't it? You remarked about humans and vampires having sides but that's overly simplifying things. There are people without magic being exploited by people with magic, and people who require blood in their diet in order to survive feasting on those who produce blood. Ignorance and prejudice and fear on all sides to a *pointless* end." he sighed, claws tapping idly. He sifted through layers of truths and lies in his mind. "Better to end this all quickly and force the lot of them to make a decent try at self government."
Ladynero: "That was why the Crusniks were created, to try and bring and end to the war," he remarked, still nibbling at his food. "Or exterminate the vampires. The military is not picky about which one happens first." And if that didn't happen within his lifetime, to produce future generations of Crusniks with Lilith to continue fighting.
Pegunicent: "An exceptionally brilliant and entirely reprehensible act of callus disregard for life itself." Sydney growled, gray eyes slitting open though they were thickly hazed. "Even as a last act of desperation it's an inhumane method to procuring safety for humanity. And doubtless they believe they are still *worth* saving." He snorted. "The wonderful thing about death is that it takes all equally and with as much delight for one soul as another."
Ladynero: He shrugged a shoulder as he scraped his plate clean. He couldn't say anything for or against humanity. He might have been created to protect them, but they were running him ragged, pushing him until he snapped, unless that was what they wanted. Him to snap and prove that he was the monster the humans whispered he was behind their hands. Then, when they killed or disabled him enough, they could stand around, shake their heads and feel justified about the whole thing.
Pegunicent: "Well, there's a simple way to handle all this. A neutral party will take control and force the fighting to stop, bring representatives to the peace table for talks and have all sides hammer out an agreement. Then we can move on with our lives. Or unlives, as the case maybe." he nodded and sat up straighter, eyes hard.
Ladynero: "A good idea. I wish you the best of luck with that dream," he drawled, shaking his head and sitting back in his chair.
Pegunicent: His smile was as sharp as the razors of his claws. "Dreams are my specialty. Now, lets find you a more comfortable place to rest before you fall asleep and get a crick in your neck there."
Ladynero: He snorted even as he pushed himself to his feet. "You'll never get the humans and vampires sitting down at the same table peacefully without one trying to kill the other. And it's an open debate who will try first."
Pegunicent: "You would be amazed what I can do. And what I can get others to do when they realize they have no choice in the matter." He waved the issue away and led the way to what was once a small home. A few spells and a good dose of power and stone walls erected themselves again, thatch covered the roof and a good sized feather tick bed complete with hand made quilt resurrected itself from memory and ash. "Sleep well."
Ladynero: Abel pushed his hand down on the bed, blinking in surprise when his hand nearly vanished into the mattress. He bent down to remove his boots before curling up under the covers, all thoughts of duty and reporting gone in the face of getting more than a few hours of sleep. He was unconscious before he fully got comfortable.
Pegunicent: Sydney let his corporeal form flicker and disappear in a glittering of pyreflies. He set a ward over the small house to warn him when Abel awoke, and sank into the welcome embrace of the Dark. He had much to learn, much to plan, and this time he wouldn't bother with the delicate games of cat and mouse. It was time he showed that he had learned his share of lessons from a certain stubborn Riskbreaker. Sometimes the best way to fix something was to smash it into a thousand glittering pieces.
Ladynero: He slept on, uncaring that the ship arrived at the meeting point and took off again to report his lack of arrival there. He continued sleeping for the next day, a restful and peaceful sleep with the breaking of distant waves and an occasional animal interrupting the quiet of the island. Late on the third day of his arrival, Abel started stirring, hunger waking him out of his slumber.
Pegunicent: Sydney stirred, focusing once more on the ruins of his city. A part of him wanted to restore it, force back time and display the beauty that was Lea Monde, but he set the fancy aside. Lea Monde slept, fitfully but it slept. The Dark no longer needed it, and only sentiment kept him bound to the place. A twist of shadows and will and he stood before the resurrected cottage, a thoughtful frown in place.
Ladynero: Yawning, Abel scrubbed at his eyes as he slowly woke up. It had felt good to sleep so long, but now he was feeling hollow again, something he hated. Maybe Losstarot wouldn't mind it if he imposed a bit longer. At least long enough to get something more to eat.
Pegunicent: He let the ward fall and considered the empty table in the cottages kitchen. A touch of power and breakfast was ready. He couldn't be certain on his guests preferences without delving into the boy's memories, and without invite that would be horribly rude of him. Pancakes and the like would suffice until Abel asked for something specific. Now, where was he to hold this summit? It would have to be a neutral place, free from politics... Hmph. "I'm over thinking this. I shall simply bring them here. Any who try to claim political dominance will be forced to concede to prior ownership. Only ten thousand years worth or so."
Ladynero: Enticing smells pulled him farther out of bed and he wandered towards them. His eyes widened at the sight of all the food on the table before flickering over to Losstarot.
Pegunicent: "Breakfast *is* the most important meal of the day, especially for growing youth." He said simply, shrugging at Abel's gaze.
Ladynero: "Thank you," he mumbled before taking a seat at the table and starting to slowly work his way through the strange foods.
Pegunicent: "You're welcome." He replied easily, making himself comfortably at home against a stone wall.
Ladynero: "How long was I asleep?" he inquired politely, sipping at the juice before returning his attention to his plate.
Pegunicent: "A bit over two days." He answered, still in deep thought. "Your guardians take very poor care of you for that level of exhaustion."
Ladynero: "My commanding officers only want results as quickly as possible," he confessed with a shrug. "We are only weapons to them. If we break, they'll make more."
Pegunicent: "No, they won't. And don't you dare tell me you believe such utter hypocrisy. I certainly didn't when I was your age." Back before his father's quest had taken his arms and legs and heart... oh best not to dwell on those memories. "In any case, once you are fed and ready to go, I suggest we return to these 'commanding officers' of yours. I have a few bits of my mind to feed them."
Ladynero: He shrugged a shoulder. "I haven't had any reason to believe differently," he pointed out, shoving his plate away. His appetite had vanished as he realized that he would be seen as either AWOL or abandoned his post. That would either mean incarceration with what few freedoms he had taken away or a tracking device so they would be able to locate him at any given time.
Pegunicent: He set a hand on the table, claws sinking into the wood thoughtlessly. "Stop that." He glared at Abel, eyes hard. "You are alive, are you not? By whatever means, to whatever end, you are an individual. You are solely responsible for your actions unless that choice has been stolen from you. You can choose to return to those that treat you as less than themselves, or you can choose to switch sides and rebel or you can choose to leave the field altogether and remain on neutral ground while the idiots destroy themselves but do *not* close your eyes and merely accept that drivel they feed you about one's creation being one's purpose." He snapped his mouth shut and almost shook with the suppressed urge to reach over and shake sense directly into Abel's skull. "Which would you prefer? Peace, or the dissolving of the human race?"
Ladynero: "Not fighting," he answered without hesitation. "And you're the *first* to offer that in any form other than death." He shook his head. "I look about fifteen human years old, but I was only born in a manner of speaking *two* years ago."
Pegunicent: He shrugged, silver ringing. "All the better to end this quickly then, while you are young enough to still learn better." He stood and stretched, claws curling into fists and then fanning wide. "You can contact these buffoons? Tell them you have an end to their war waiting for them, and a very 'unimpressed' Lord of the Graylands awaiting their leader."
Ladynero: He sighed and rose to his feet. "I can try by going to the meeting spot and hoping they didn't abandon me because I wasn't there to meet them."
Pegunicent: "Then I shall simply accompany you. A sufficient flare will get their attention if they have turned away." He said it with a hint of teeth in his smile that was a tad too purposeful to be safe.
Ladynero: "It's on the far side of this island, at a large flat area that might have been a town square at one time," he remarked, walking out the door and heading in that direction.
Pegunicent: Sydney followed though he thought he knew the area better than Abel probably did. He left no mark on the dirt and grass, made barely a sound as they walked besides a faint chime.
Ladynero: Abel lead Losstarot to the far side of the island and sighed at the depressions still visible in the grass. "They were here, and the fact that they didn't leave a beacon for me to activate means they've abandoned me."
Pegunicent: Sydney hummed, walking a slow circle around the area. "That's alright. We haven't abandoned them now have we?" Spreading his arms wide he opened himself to the Dark, letting it pour and wind through him like a cherished lover, a simple request on the tip of his tongue. "Bring them back, please? We need to talk."
The Dark was a possessive thing, but it had a sense of humor, twisted and morbid and all shades of wrong that let it laugh at such a use of its power. The Dark loved mischief, and Sydney *always* delivered. Carelessly it plucked the ship from where it was and deposited it at Sydney's feet, a twitching mouse delivered from cat to kitten.
Ladynero: Abel jumped when the ship suddenly appeared, his eyes as wide as the pilot's behind the glass. He knew now that if he had tried to fight Losstarot, then he would have been as helpless as a human was to a vampire.
Pegunicent: Sydney nodded. "Thank you." Gesturing Abel on he cast a minor binding on the immense machine. Just in case the ones inside decided to try and run. "After you."
Ladynero: Straightening his shoulders, Abel walked over to the ship and opened the door, stepping inside. The pilot was still staring in a mix of surprise and fear when Abel picked up the radio and quickly relayed Losstarot's message to the station. He didn't wait for a reply before he wandered back outside. "Your message has been delivered, my lord."
Pegunicent: "Please. It's just Sydney. I'm only a Lord when I don't like someone." he replied airily. "Will they come down here or will I have to send an irrefutable invitation?"
Ladynero: "Invitation because they will assume that it is a trap and therefor won't risk stepping off the space station," replied Abel with a sarcastic smile. "Wouldn't do to get their hands dirty with this war going on down here."
Pegunicent: "Ah. I feared as much. I'm going to be very tired after this, and therefore exceedingly short tempered." He grimaced, striding purposefully towards the cliffs overlooking the thundering ocean. Even for the Dark he was asking quite a bit, overstepping boundaries with such deliberate manipulation of lives and power. All for what could be considered his own gain. Selfish pursuits. 'Oh please, you already own me body, heart and soul, you know I'm not doing this for *me*. You're the one who decided to go about changing the world to fit yourself, the least you can do is help me mitigate the damage.'
The Dark laughed, cold and pitiless and impossibly kind, allowing Sydney to grasp the feeble, false star from the heavens and bring it to the cavernous heart of the merciless sea.
Ladynero: If he thought the ship appearing was impressive, he was unprepared for the space station to suddenly appear next to the island. His legs gave out in shock as he stared at the ice rapidly forming on the space cold hull. He could make out people scrabbling around inside the station with red lights flickering throughout the many portholes. 'Red Alert. Enemy Attack,' his mind helpfully provided.
Pegunicent: Sydney wasn't done. Having the mice in the trap was only the first step, he wanted them broken legged and with a grimace he felt through the massive edifice of machinery for it's heart and firmly clenched a shadowy fist around it, crushing the source of human power. That accomplished, he let out a shallow breath and realized he was covered in a thin layer of sweat, limbs sending phantom aches and pains shooting through his spine.
Ladynero: The red alert lights fell dark as emergency lights kicked on, dimly illuminating the interior as the only sound that remained was that of the waves crashing against the hull. It was certainly one hell of an invitation, and Abel knew that they wouldn't be able to refuse it now. He glanced over at Sydney with a faint frown at how drawn the man was looking. Had it been too much for him? He pushed himself to his feet and slowly made his way over to Sydney.
Pegunicent: He let his eyes drift closed, willing himself not to tremble, or worse, dissolve back into the Dark for a good rest. No matter how impressive a display, he wasn't going to leave Abel alone with these barbarians while he twinkled out in a cloud of fairy lights. He had brought this mess upon himself, he would deal with it himself. He just needed a moment to gather things together. "That trick might have been useful against Guildenstern. Pity I didn't have anything as handy and large to drop on the bothersome insect back then." He muttered to himself.
Ladynero: "Are you all right, Sydney?" murmured Abel, his voice soft and his lips barely moving. He knew of a couple of people who could read lips on the station. There were screeches of protest coming form frozen metal as hatches popped open on the station.
Pegunicent: "Fine, Abel. Simply tired. My resources are not infinite, however vast they may seem." His words were spoken with the tone of an old, weary sage. Indeed, Sydney felt old. Impossibly old. But age lent itself to cunning, and there was no fox more wily than a Dark Master on a mission. "Our company doesn't seem pleased with their invitation. So very picky of them."
Ladynero: Abel shrugged his shoulders. "They're military, and military intelligence is the biggest oxymoron I know of."
Pegunicent: Sydney huffed a laugh. "Indeed. I have always despised the political necessity for armies. Whatever issue can not be settled between two men face to face like civilized beings?" shaking his head sadly, he waited for his 'guests' to sort themselves out. "You should make yourself scarce, in case they decide to be immensely stupid and attempt a force of arms. I'm afraid I'm not in any condition at the moment to protect you."
Ladynero: He nodded. "I'll return to the house for a bit more sleep. Be careful." With that, he turned and left to head back to the house or a bit more sleep. Sydney would be able to deal with anything the military threw at him.
Pegunicent: He watched Abel leave, firming his resolve and letting sheer stubborn will keep him together. There were all manner of powers in the world, and right now he used the power of experience and tenacity to hold his ground. "Welcome to Lea Monde, the Forsaken City of the Dead. As your humble host may I offer you a glass of wine? I'm ever so sorry if your accommodations aren't quite what you expected, I like to keep life so *full* of surprises." He smiled, sweeping a bow at the crippled station.