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| | 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) | |
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RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 12:58 am | |
| - Kolson wrote:
- "What would the cost be for this kind of help, Snicker?"
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| | | RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 12:58 am | |
| - Zeiss wrote:
- "Oh, now we're talking!" exclaims Snicker, keen to get on to business. "Well, since it's the first time I would do this kind of deal, let's say..."
Konrad's facial expression changes.
"...six hours in someone's body," announces a disembodied voice. "Of course, if you feel uncomfortable, we can discuss the terms."
The fairy floats towards the red mage.
"Konrad, are you okay?" asks Breeze with a worried tone. |
| | | RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 12:59 am | |
| - Rory wrote:
- Konrad takes a moment to breathe. Man, feels different when someone else is doing it for you.
"I'm just peachy, Blue. It's me, I'm back." He looks over at Conan. "Kid, listen. It's not like that."
Persuasion Pathetic attempt to convince him he shouldn't be afraid of staying with us. |
| | | RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 12:59 am | |
| - Zeiss wrote:
- Conan raises an eyebrow, unconvinced.
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| | | RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 12:59 am | |
| - Rory wrote:
- Of course.
Konrad moves toward the door. "If you want to tell the master, consider yourselves on a timer." |
| | | RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 12:59 am | |
| - Zeiss wrote:
- Fedler puts a hand on Konrad's arm. She appears troubled.
"Where are you going?" she asks. |
| | | RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 1:00 am | |
| - Rory wrote:
- "North wing. There's been something I've been meaning to do, that I should have done 12 hours ago." He walks out.
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| | | RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 1:00 am | |
| - Zeiss wrote:
- "Follow him," orders Zelk to Adam.
The stern man nods, and proceeds to follow Konrad, who has just stepped into the wall and sees that the door leading to the dinner area is still closed. Two monks are standing in front of it. |
| | | RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 1:01 am | |
| - Kolson wrote:
- "It appears we are out of time. If I were to accept your offer, Snicker, the time when you called in the chit would be by mutual agreement and no more than two hours in a row. We can discuss what it is you want to do for that length of time later but it's something we both have to agree on and it will never involve doing harm to anything or anyone. If you and Zelk agree that these provisions in exchange for what you offered are a good deal, then we have an accord."
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| | | RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 1:01 am | |
| - K wrote:
- Mihai gives Zelk a hard glance and leaves the room - "I'm gonna go see the Master."
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| | | RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 1:02 am | |
| - Rory wrote:
- Konrad whispers to Adam, "Hope you have my back."
He pulls out a lantern, lights it with his flint and steel, and walks up to the monks. "Master Avalon sent me. He's allowing us to take shift in the north wing."
Deception+Diplomacy Lying super hard. Adam is helping.
- ooc:
All things to all people: we get that you're trying to do your job, but Avalon thinks I'm a super polite guy, see how super polite I am being now? I'm harmless, and he likes me, so that gives me credibility. See this lantern? Would a sneaky murder-man be holding a lamp like someone on patrol?
Plus, I'm not wearing a mage's armband and I haven't used magic. They don't know anything.
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| | | RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 1:02 am | |
| - Zeiss wrote:
- A flash of concern appears on Zelk's face as she hears Steve's counteroffer. She grabs his arm, and immediately reprimands him. "What are you doing!? You think I'm going to agree to this?"
"These terms are acceptable," responds Snicker. "But I need permission of the person I will borrow the body from."
"Shut up," retorts the lieutenant through her teeth. "Steve, you nitwit; don't do it."
Breeze, Fredrick and Naomi are left puzzled at this turn of events, while Conan is attentive to this whole situation.
_________________________
Fedler follows Mihai out in the hallway, just in time to see the red mage's attempt to deceive the two monks.
He pulls out a lantern, lights it with his flint and steel, and walks up to the monks. "Master Avalon sent me. He's allowing us to take shift in the north wing."
The monks take a fighting stance. The one on the left says with a mellow tone, "No." |
| | | RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 1:03 am | |
| - Rory wrote:
- Konrad's eyes grow dark. The light from the lamp casts haunting shadows across his face. "You Stoic stillborn-minded fools will listen to me and do as I say if you know what's good for you: you will move out of my fucking way and let me pass, and after you do, you will remain standing here like the stupid stone-faced grunts that you are if you don't want me to pancake you until you as flat as the cards you build this paper-mache house out of."
Intimidation Exactly what it says on the tin. |
| | | RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 1:03 am | |
| - K wrote:
- Mihai puts one arm in front of Fedler and nudges her back. - "Stay out of this."
He moves back a step, and close to the wall, so the Monks do not perceive them as a threat. |
| | | RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 1:04 am | |
| - Kolson wrote:
- "I'm not a nitwit, Zelk. It would be a massive tactical advantage with very little cost to anyone else. I've already extracted promises from Snicker to do no harm and we need the help. But please, tell me why I shouldn't."
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| | | RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 1:04 am | |
| - Zeiss wrote:
- "Because you can't just trust an entity like that," replies Zelk, more agitated. She tightens her grasp on Steve's arm. "It just told us it never did that kind of deal before; there may be unknown side effects."
"Oh, I can assure you there won't be any," adds Snicker.
"I said shut up!" interrupts Zelk. "Look Steve, just... just don't do it. You've pulled pranks on the whole Citadel. You don't even need that kind of help to get the job done. And this time, you have me. So let's just come up with a plan that doesn't involve someone that calls itself Snicker."
______________________________
The monks do not look as confident anymore, but they stand their ground. The people in the hallways can hear some sort of commotion coming from the room, but the upcoming confrontation takes priority.
Fedler doesn't hesitate for a second; she moves Mihai's hand out of the way, walks up right in front of Konrad, and slaps him in the face.
"What the hell do you think you're doing!?" she almost yells. "It's not just you anymore. We're a team, and we make decisions together. So get back in that room before I kick your fucking ass."
Adam, and the monks, are stunned. The door leading to the dinner area slides open to reveal Master Avalon, who is walking up to stand between his two disciples. He observes the scene in silence. |
| | | RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 1:05 am | |
| - Kolson wrote:
- Steve looks into her eyes and says nothing for a few seconds. He slowly takes her hand in his. "Zelk, if anything happened to you or our friends and I could have changed that by taking this deal...I'd be done. I'd never come back from it."
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| | | RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 1:06 am | |
| - Zeiss wrote:
- Zelk doesn't shy away from holding Steve's hand, despite the presence of other people in the room. She sighs with relief, and a smile makes its way to her face. A genuine one.
"It won't happen," she reassures him. "We've got this."
The group suddenly hears Fedler's voice coming from the hallway.
- OOC:
I'll wait for Rory to post before I do so again.
- Mihai only:
What happened when Mihai and Fedler were away from the rest of the group at the monastery
Mihai waits for Fedler to finish eating, then says, "Hey, I’m kind of done here. Think we could go somewhere?"
She puts her fork back on her plate. "Yeah, let's just... go."
Both of them approach the Master. With a smile still scotched to his face, he asks, "A room for the two of you, I assume?"
"Please,” answer Mihai.
The Master nods, and guides them to a small room in the right wing. "These are futons. You're probably not used to them, but this is on what we sleep on. You only need to unroll them."
"Thank you."
He gives a quick bow, and then closes the sliding door behind him. Fedler sighs, puts her bow against the wall, and removes her cloak. "I have a bad feeling about this."
"I'm sorry,” starts Mihai. “I wanted to tell you right when you woke up, but couldn't. And not just because Fredrick was there."
She turns towards him. "What do you mean?"
"Fedler... it wasn't luck that I found you. Wasn't skill either. After I woke up on the shore, Snicker spoke to me, and told me your situation. I couldn't wait another minute. I..." he fumbles. "I made the deal."
He looks down, as a kid who has just confessed a sin.
"What?" She doesn't seem to understand. Not immediately. Then it dawns on her. "You made the deal?"
"I asked Snicker to guide me to you, in exchange for ten minutes in my body.” He adds as an afterthought, "And breakfast."
Fedler starts pacing around the room, almost frantically, like she cannot believe it. "Why Mihai? Why? We know nothing about it. Nothing at all. How can you just trust something like that?"
"I know...!" he adds, exasperated. "I couldn't... I just couldn't leave you there."
She stops moving, and brings her hands to her face, distressed by this revelation. "Oh no. No no no. Not you too."
He steps forward and embraces her. "No. That's not happening. Listen to me. I really don't think he'd go through all the trouble of asking permission and then lie. And he's agreed to a compromise. He'll allow Breeze to sense for him while he's in here. If she can detect his presence, she'll always be able to tell whether or not it's really me."
These last words have transformed her worry into anger. Still in his arms, she nevertheless backs away so he can see her face. "Why did you do that!? It's not just you who's making the deal. You're forcing me into it." Her head hangs down.
He holds her tighter. "I'm sorry... I’m sorry....! The truth is, I wasn't allowed to tell you till after it was over. But I couldn't bear to leave you in the dark, so he relented. I don't know, maybe it would have been for the best to just wait till after, but... I couldn't bear to look at you and keep this from you. I'm sorry... I’m so stupid..."
She puts her arms around Mihai's shoulders, and gives him a kiss on the cheek. "Never do that again. Even if you think there's no other choice, never do it. Promise me."
He wants to argue the point, but can't bear to deny her. "I promise."
Fedler stays in this embrace for a long moment, until she backs away a little, and asks, "Is it still in here, right now?"
"I think it's everywhere. If you just think, it’ll answer."
"But it's not controlling you right now, right?"
"No!" He blurts out, a little stronger than he'd like. "Sorry.” He immediately apologizes, and finally realizes the full bore of what he's putting her through. "I'm sorry... at the time the only thing i could think of was getting to you. All the rest just came later." He sounds exasperated again. "I... only then it came to me what it would be like for you to have to doubt like that; to look at me and not be sure. That's why he has more than five minutes on me now. I tried and tried to restrict him so he could never hurt you like this."
"Mihai, you were supposed to find me, not him." She pauses. "I might have been tempted to do the same if our situations were reversed, and I don't know if I would have taken the deal, but just... we cannot count on someone who has a price for its help.”
Without raising his head, Mihai nods. She raises his head with her hand, and then kisses him, softly. Once their lips part from each other, she appears a lot calmer.
"We have to find a way to leave this place. Alive."
"We will,” he replies.
"Good." She thinks. "We'll have to talk with the others. I don't like where this is going."
"Yeah, this is a bigger powder keg than Zelk's stupid stunt with--" He stops himself - "Sorry. Either way, Konrad has it in for Kira, that's pretty obvious. And Zelk and the Lorinth people might still have their eye on the coff-" He catches himself. "Conan. I don't know what the deal with that guy is, but picking a fight with him right now is the mother of all bad ideas."
"We'll... we'll figure something out. But I doubt this will end without a fight.”
"If it comes to that..." he braces himself for what he's about to say. "All I’ll be fighting for is you. I never cared about this job from minute one, and I don't care anymore how fit that makes me to be a mercenary. I won't be pressed into fighting a battle I don't believe in against a guy that did me no harm. Not for the military or for anyone else."
A sad smile appears on her face. "So what do we do? If a fight breaks out, we can't very well ignore it. And who do we side with? I..." She goes silent.
He gently pulls her in. "I know. At the end of the day, I’ll have to turn my blade one way or the other. It's part of why I’ve been so pissed off at those two, playing their little smoke screen game. At the end of the day, I know who I have to defend. That's why... So long as it's you. Or Steve, or Breeze..." He bitterly chuckles. "Heck, I guess even Konrad... even if I’d want to kick his ass later on... I guess i can do it. I just hope we can avoid it."
"Okay." She takes a deep breath. "Then let's go see the others...."
"Wait a second... There's... something else I’d been meaning to tell you, but with Fredrick there..."
She appears worried.
"Uh, no!” reassures Mihai. “Nothing like that. It's just... well... Back when you told me about how you knew... about Konrad. When you told me about when we talked in your room... well it kinda stung a little to go back to it, but... I was really happy you'd share that with me. Just..." He looks away embarrassed. "Just put a really stupid smile on my face to know you trust me like that. I let the moment get away before, but... I really wanted to tell you that."
She smiles. "We'll have plenty of sappy talks when we get back home, okay?"
He chuckles, and smiles a little. "I guess..."
She gives him a little peck on the lips, and then walks towards the door. "Time for our secret meeting."
"Yeah."
They leave the room.
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| | | RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 1:06 am | |
| - Kolson wrote:
- That smile. It takes his breath away every time. In that moment, between the smile and the disturbance outside, Steve realizes that he would do anything to make her smile that way again. He nods to her and says, "Yeah, we d-."
He looks towards the door in confusion. "The hell?" |
| | | RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 1:07 am | |
| - Rory wrote:
- The slap sends stunned silence ringing for a few seconds, during which Konrad glares back at Fedler, his hand balled up and trembling, ready to strike back. The group can hang. Kira is not getting away.
He recovers when Avalon joins the scene, and greets him, cheeks still burning, "Ah, there he is now. My friend would like to have a word with you." He gestures toward Mihai.
Intimidation vs Fedler |
| | | RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 1:07 am | |
| - K wrote:
- Rory wrote:
- Konrad glares back at Fedler, his hand balled up and trembling, ready to strike back.
Which is immediately interrupted by Mihai standing between the two, coldly glaring back at Konrad. - "I promise i won't slap." - he mutters menacingly.
- Zeiss:
Mihai's foot opposite Konrad's hand is half a step back, and firmly rooted on the ground. He's bracing to take the hit.
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| | | RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 1:08 am | |
| - Zeiss wrote:
- Master Avalon keeps looking at the group in the silence, while Fedler crosses her arms and stares back at Konrad without flinching.
Zelk, Naomi, Fredrick and Breeze enter the hallway, drawn by the commotion.
"What the hell is happening here?" asks the lieutenant.
"He is trying to force his way through the monks," replies Adam, as he points to Konrad.
Zelk sighs in exasperation. "Konrad, get back in the room. She's not getting off this island without a boat." |
| | | RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 1:08 am | |
| - Rory wrote:
- Konrad breathes in, and exhales, and regains his composure, looking back through that veneer of calm that he built as a labor of love. "You're right. I'm sorry, I don't understand what came over me. It's just that I've been looking forward to a proper reunion for many years. I need to go and rest for a minute."
Deception vs monks I'm pretending that this reunion does not involve any sort of violent confrontation. |
| | | RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 1:09 am | |
| - K wrote:
- Mihai doesn't budge from his spot, but does turn to Avalon.
"Master, we have a situation you should be apprised of. May we talk?"
Diplomacy |
| | | RorytheRomulan
Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17
| Subject: Re: 2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive) Mon 05 Aug 2019, 1:09 am | |
| - Zeiss wrote:
- To Konrad's explanation, an expression of understanding appears on Master Avalon's face.
"Oh, I see. Leon, Valor, please stand down," he tells to his two disciples, who immediately obey him. "I apologize if we've made you think you were our prisoners. We simply wish to keep contact between your two groups to a minimum, as we suspect it might lead to a violent encounter. However, if you wish to talk to one person in particular, we can relay a message to them, and set up a place for you to meet. However, if this takes place within the monastery, it will be done under our supervision."
To Mihai, he nods with understanding.
"Of course." He looks at the rest of the group. "Only you, or is anyone else coming?" |
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