(11:45:54 AM) ***Blueshift_North sits down at the captains chair, sighs, and reluctantly starts a very particular video call she's been putting off.
(11:47:04 AM) Ikiryo: It goes through and a moment later, a Q-33 face appears on the other end.
(11:48:19 AM) Blueshift_North: "Uh.  Hey."
(11:48:34 AM) Ikiryo: "Hi North!" ...that's South.
(11:49:53 AM) ***Blueshift_North blinks.  "Did you. . . leave the ship at some point? Is this a confrence call?"
(11:51:31 AM) Ikiryo: "Oh, I'm out with the others in Sigil."
(11:55:02 AM) ***Blueshift_North pinches the bridge of her nose.  "Where should I meet you?"
(11:55:35 AM) Ikiryo: "I'm at Miss Martinez' bar. It's open again! Did you know she beat us up a while ago?"
(11:59:18 AM) Blueshift_North: "I had heard that.  I'll.  Be right there." She goes to get on her motorcycle.
(12:00:52 PM) Ikiryo: The bar, at least from the outside looks nice. A multi-story building has been renovated to give it a neo-western cygnaran look. Lots of false wood and a big open patio out the front. Seems already busy despite it's recent re-opening.
(12:01:29 PM) Ikiryo: A pretty girl in a lovely white dress that goes to mid thigh, thigh high stocking and platform heels is greeting people out the front. It looks rather like the clubbing version of what a soiled dove might wear...North is also pretty sure she saw that girl a few days ago at the meeting with Samantha holding a high power sniper rifle.
(12:02:20 PM) ***Blueshift_North gives a short wave.  "Hey, I'm looking for three people who could win a look alike contest for me?"
(12:05:22 PM) Ikiryo: "Oh yeah, they are in. South is taking advantage of the employee discount~" She smiles warmly at North.
(12:07:05 PM) Blueshift_North: "I'm shocked.  Thanks though." She ducks inside and scans for the, probably slightly rowdy group of people identical to her.
(12:08:49 PM) Ikiryo: She soon spots a trio. South dressed up in a blue copy of what the employees here are wearing, a girl in a fancy blue outfit that looks like what North saw in a trideo about a wizard academy recently and one in jeans and a t-shirt, looking very surly.
(12:09:48 PM) ***Blueshift_North arrives behind them.  "Boo."
(12:10:22 PM) Ikiryo: South waves widely, the one in the Wizard outfit jumping nearly out of her seat.
(12:10:26 PM) Ikiryo: The third rolls her eyes.
(12:11:42 PM) Blueshift_North: "So, when'd you get into town?"
(12:12:49 PM) Ikiryo: The third girl, likely east? She stands up and stalks away, looking pissed off. South looks suprised and runs after her.
(12:13:30 PM) Ikiryo: The wizardly girl does her best to regain her composure, her expression taking on a haughty look it completely lacked a few minutes ago. "About twelve hours ago."
(12:13:31 PM) Blueshift_North: ". . . is she always like that?"
(12:16:44 PM) Blueshift_North: "So. Look I have to fill you in on some quori shit, and. . ." She turns to the bartender.  "Can we get a private, like, space for conversation?"
(12:17:19 PM) Ikiryo: She gives the pair a smile. "Of course, private rooms are in the back. Would you like any drinks delivered?"
(12:18:17 PM) Blueshift_North: "I. . . Could I get a bottle of bourbon and a menu for if/when we need more drinks."
(12:18:19 PM) Blueshift_North: A beat.
(12:18:23 PM) Blueshift_North: "Probably when."
(12:19:40 PM) Ikiryo: "Of course. Miss Martinez has given you rather a large line of credit for services rendered and West has an employee discount." The other Q-33 blushes at that.
(12:20:39 PM) ***Blueshift_North blinks.  "Oh cool.  Anyway, come on, let's go.  And hey, look at the bright side West, you never had to deal with the stupid needle crap."
(12:20:46 PM) Blueshift_North: "Also don't ask about the accent."
(12:21:40 PM) Ikiryo: West's attempt to keep a stotic face has faded as she sighs and follows North towards a very nice private room with large couches, a trideo display and tables.
(12:23:17 PM) Blueshift_North: "So.  I have a good news bad news situation." She starts as soon as the door closes.  "Found our creator.  He's trapped.  I have willingly sacrificed my ability to untrap him without convincing my therapist it's a good idea because the trap is in my head."
(12:23:45 PM) Ikiryo: She goes to say something...and just freezes. "...what?"
(12:25:40 PM) Blueshift_North: "The Puppeteer is inside my head and to let it out would be ego suicide."
(12:26:21 PM) Ikiryo: "You...you found him?" Her voice is very weak.
(12:27:04 PM) Blueshift_North: "Technically I never lost him." She sounds. . . exhausted.  "My brain is a prison for him."
(12:28:59 PM) Ikiryo: "...why? We were designed to be..." She stares at North.
(12:30:44 PM) Blueshift_North: "Because if I let it out the first thing it's going to do is kill all my friends.  You three are probably next.  And then after that, who knows?"
(12:31:25 PM) Ikiryo: "Why would be...why would he do that?" She looks very confused and, most of all, tired.
(12:31:50 PM) Ikiryo: The slumps into a seat
(12:33:59 PM) Blueshift_North: ". . . I don't know.  But.  Okay so there's a couple of things I shared with South already.  Do you want to learn what it's like to play host to the person you pretend to be? Or do you want to meet the person who would have been in the tube if I had been there the day you all woke up."
(12:38:14 PM) Ikiryo: "...yes. I've been looking for them for...years...ever since we couldn't find you." She nods, dropping her face into her hands.
(12:39:17 PM) Blueshift_North: "Which one first?"
(12:40:30 PM) Ikiryo: She's quiet, just sitting there with her head in her hands.
(12:42:17 PM) ***Blueshift_North sighs.  She connects a cable to the back of her neck and offers it to her.  "When you're ready." She says softly.  "You probably won't be."
(12:42:49 PM) Ikiryo: She takes it, clicking it into the back of her own neck.
(12:50:13 PM) Blueshift_North: Memory floods into her.  There's a flash and they're in Sunstar's office.  Everything plays out, and West feels everything.  The feeling of something other than her having primary control of her body.  Of her consciousness, her. . . memories, going black as it starts eating into her.  The nameless thing that's not dread or fear, or sadness, but something that's all of those and worse as she feels herself backhand
(12:50:13 PM) Blueshift_North: her best friend in the universe, freeze someone who's done nothing but help, and turn hate on one of the few people in the universe helping her hold together.  Everything as she throws her entire existence at this thing from outside the world, and slow it for a second, and assemble a wall of memories and joy and love and box it in with help.  And.  Then after, where everything is that nameless loss of control and
(12:50:14 PM) Blueshift_North: hope that stole her words and ability to think for too long.
(12:51:28 PM) Ikiryo: West...screams.
(12:53:32 PM) ***Blueshift_North catches her, and holds her.  "I know." She says, quietly.
(12:53:55 PM) Ikiryo: "What...what was that?"
(12:54:23 PM) Blueshift_North: "The Puppeteer." She says, quietly.  "That's what it does."
(12:56:07 PM) Ikiryo: "No...it can't be..."
(12:57:32 PM) Blueshift_North: "I assure you, it was.  I have video evidence from my ship from the people who had me after they got. . . the person who was here before me.  Q-33 North.  And made her into me.  Blueshift North."
(12:58:49 PM) Ikiryo: "Wait...what? What do you mean?"
(1:00:49 PM) Blueshift_North: "I. . . that was part two." She flicks a hand at the TV to broadcast the video from the person she was before onto it.  "This is Q-33 North.  She's dead now, and I'm. . . I'll let her explain. She doesn't have fond feelings about you or South or East, but.  She's not me."
(1:01:23 PM) Ikiryo: She watches the video, her face pale.
(1:04:02 PM) ***Blueshift_North holds her, gently.  She gives it a few moments after she stopped it before, and if it doesn't look like she's going to engage with this moment, stops the video.
(1:05:01 PM) Ikiryo: She stares at the wall for a bit...and starts crying. "No..."
(1:05:37 PM) Blueshift_North: "I'm sorry." She says very quietly, and holds her.
(1:06:49 PM) Ikiryo: "No...no...this is...it's no good...it shouldn't be..." She mumbles
(1:07:25 PM) Blueshift_North: "Talk through it." She replies.  "It's fine.  I'm here.  I want to help."
(1:08:13 PM) Ikiryo: "We...we need him. Without him, everything goes wrong..."
(1:09:45 PM) Blueshift_North: "And I can't let him out.  So we need a new plan."
(1:11:15 PM) Ikiryo: She starts to cry. "I've been trying...I've been trying to plan."
(1:13:41 PM) ***Blueshift_North hugs her more tightly.  "I know.  And this is like getting the rug pulled out from under you.  I'm sorry it's not what you wanted and neither am I." She says, pressing her forhead to her double's.
(1:14:42 PM) Ikiryo: "We need the Puppeteer...I can't...I can't keep fooling them forever."
(1:15:49 PM) Blueshift_North: ". . . You mean South and East? Because South knows, or. . ." She winces.  She knows that this isn't the time to get his name wrong.  "Bloodshadow."
(1:19:42 PM) Ikiryo: "...bloodshadow?"
(1:20:40 PM) Blueshift_North: "The. . . big. . . spooky dead guy with the ice sword." She looks embarassed.
(1:20:46 PM) Blueshift_North: "I can never get his name right."
(1:21:10 PM) Blueshift_North: "I've just been saying two to three words that sound edgy together and people worked it out."
(1:22:23 PM) Ikiryo: "Goreshade." She sighs. "It's not just him. It's the other Quori..."
(1:24:53 PM) Blueshift_North: "I. . . might know some people who can help? I'm in contact with a group of people who fight the Quori."
(1:26:36 PM) Ikiryo: "They think the Puppeteer is still about, if they find out he's gone..." She bites her lip, hard.
(1:28:21 PM) Blueshift_North: "They'll come for me.  They'll come hard and try to take me apart.  I'll.  I can make an announcement.  Put out the word.  That'll get them off you."
(1:30:42 PM) Ikiryo: She shakes her head. "Not for you. For everything...they don't think the can be stopped or killed...so they are not bringing everything to bear. The puppeteer was one of the few who cared..."
(1:31:43 PM) Blueshift_North: "Well, looks like the lillies are going to be really busy in a minute.  And. . . I can't fix this."
(1:32:54 PM) Ikiryo: "I...I thought I could but..." She starts crying.
(1:34:05 PM) ***Blueshift_North hugs her, tight and comforting again.  She's starting to get good at this.  "We might not be able to do it on our own but I've got friends."
(1:35:09 PM) Ikiryo: "You can't...they can't...no one can do it." She shakes her head. "The Quori are going to destroy everything...and I can't stop them."
(1:44:15 PM) ***Blueshift_North grips her sister's head in her hands and forces her to meet North's gaze.  "Look at me.  Even if the deck is stacked.  Even if we've counted the cards and there's no ace coming up in the last turn.  The worst case scenario for us losing is the same as what happens if we don't try. So.  I'm going to fight.  And yeah.  It sucks.  Yeah there's days where Adelinda gets me out of bed at noon because I'm too
(1:44:15 PM) ***Blueshift_North depressed to move without prompting, and neither of us talk about it.  But there's no other options.  So, if something comes for me at the end of the day.  I'm gonna say that I went out rummaging in my pockets for my spare ace."
(1:45:08 PM) Ikiryo: "...what?" The analogy went well past her.
(1:47:32 PM) Blueshift_North: "I. . . you don't play poker do you?"
(1:48:05 PM) Ikiryo: She shakes her head.
(1:48:43 PM) Blueshift_North: "I'm saying that there's no reason not to fight to the end, because if we lose that's the same as if we don't try."
(1:51:28 PM) Ikiryo: "...I've been trying so hard." She sniffles.
(1:54:28 PM) Blueshift_North: "I know.  I know what that's like.  We. . . I think in a way you and me have been fighting the same fight but in different directions."
(1:54:32 PM) Blueshift_North: "no pun intended."
(1:55:34 PM) Ikiryo: "I killed innocent people trying to...trying to keep the Quori, away all for nothing." She resumes sobbing.
(1:58:21 PM) ***Blueshift_North strokes her hair.  "I wish I could make that better for you.  I really do.  Instead, I'm going to make a deal with you."
(1:58:43 PM) Ikiryo: "What?"
(2:02:01 PM) Blueshift_North: "Don't do it again.  Spend the rest of your life doing, what is to you, the right thing.  Make those deaths mean something and help me stop the quori.  And in return.  I'll stand next to you no matter what.  Every single person on Sigil.  In the entire multiverse could come at you.  And I will do everything I can to help you.  If the end of the world comes for you.  Then it'll need to go through me."
(2:03:14 PM) Ikiryo: "...how?"
(2:03:49 PM) Blueshift_North: ". . .  to which one?"
(2:05:06 PM) Ikiryo: "How do we stop them? They are powerful beyond belief..."
(2:08:38 PM) Blueshift_North: ". . . I don't know yet.  I'm working on finding a way to kill them or stop them permanently.  But I'll find it.  I'll find. . . something."
(2:09:28 PM) Ikiryo: She frowns, not looking convinced.
(2:14:42 PM) Blueshift_North: "It'd be easier if we had more people working togther." She offers, sheepishly.  "Look.  I'm not good at this, but this is the attitude I have to have, because.  Box or no, when I'm emotionally vulnerable it can get in.  And. . . I can't offer you a guarenteed win.  But. . . it's what I have and it's better than nothing.  Trust me on that. I've seen nothing."
(2:15:48 PM) Ikiryo: "I don't know...I need to think about it."
(2:18:23 PM) Blueshift_North: "Take your time.  It's not something that's easy to come to an answer for.  I. . . had to start seeing a therapist before I could get here."
(2:21:01 PM) Ikiryo: "I just...I just want this to be over. I've been working so hard for years..."
(2:22:08 PM) Blueshift_North: "Then. . . take some time off.  Take a break.  See Sigil.  If you need help, I have friends here and I'll let them know if you need help, you can go to them."
(2:23:25 PM) Ikiryo: She shakes her head. "I need to be there if Goreshade calls again...or the Quori."
(2:24:50 PM) Blueshift_North: "Set up a base here? Maybe. . . think about coming by the Serpent sometime.  It's. . . well I was going to say not much but it is.  It's also home."
(2:26:17 PM) Ikiryo: "I'll think about it..."
(2:27:52 PM) Blueshift_North: ". . . Do you. . . want to watch a movie? I know it might seem like weird timing but. . . it helps me when I don't know what to do.  I watch movies with people I like.  And. . . I don't know if you like me, but. . . I do want to be your sister, even if I'm not really the same person you would have met."
(2:28:28 PM) Ikiryo: She nods
(2:29:31 PM) Blueshift_North: "Anything you want to watch? I probably have it.  Do you. . . have a favorite movie?"
(2:30:48 PM) Ikiryo: "I like movies about magic..."
(2:32:42 PM) Ikiryo: Not really suprising with the outfit.
(2:33:25 PM) ***Blueshift_North thinks.  "Pharaoh Deliverance vs The Shadowmages? It's got a bad name but a 80 percent on rotten tomatoes."
(2:33:47 PM) Ikiryo: "I've never seen it." She tilts her head.
(2:34:41 PM) Blueshift_North: "Same." A beat.  "Should we call North and East?"
(2:39:13 PM) Ikiryo: "I think East is busy being angry."
(2:40:19 PM) Blueshift_North: "Is it something I did?"
(2:42:58 PM) Ikiryo: She nods. "She blames you for not being there and for all we've been through."
(2:43:33 PM) Blueshift_North: "I. . . can't really fault her for that."
(2:44:37 PM) Ikiryo: "She also thinks that south betrayed us because she didn't tell us when she found you."
(2:46:19 PM) Blueshift_North: "My friend made her swear a magical oath to not do that.  I. . . once we figure out the. . ." She winces again.  "Shadowlord. Problem.  She'll want her body back."
(2:51:32 PM) Ikiryo: "...wait, her body back? You mean the girl on the cruise line?"
(2:52:13 PM) Blueshift_North: "Yeah?"
(2:55:16 PM) Ikiryo: "...how does she want her body back?"
(2:56:06 PM) Blueshift_North: "She's a time displaced spirit."
(2:57:33 PM) Ikiryo: She tilts her head, confused. "What?"
(2:58:11 PM) Blueshift_North: "Her spirit was in the future and is here now."
(2:58:56 PM) Ikiryo: "How does that work?" She only looks more confused.
(3:01:13 PM) Blueshift_North: "How should I know."
(3:02:28 PM) Ikiryo: "Well, you are telling me about it..."
(3:04:27 PM) Blueshift_North: ". . . Okay fine.  You win this one your high witch-ness.  Look I just know what I've been told."
(3:05:11 PM) Ikiryo: "I'm not a witch..." She pouts.
(3:05:35 PM) Blueshift_North: "Wizard?"
(3:06:02 PM) Blueshift_North: "Sorry I. . . don't know what you prefer." She slumps a little.  "I'm sorry I wasn't there sooner to help you."
(3:06:38 PM) Ikiryo: "I'm not even a real wizard." She sighs. "And...it wasn't your fault."
(3:07:11 PM) Blueshift_North: "I'm sure you'd make a good one.  And. . . Still.  You're my sister and I want to help you more, if I can."
(3:10:01 PM) Ikiryo: She blushes at the compliment. "...thank you. Wait...I'm the older Sister, I should be offering to help you."
(3:11:07 PM) Blueshift_North: "Yeah but I'm more financially successful."
(3:12:47 PM) Ikiryo: "...I'm pretty broke, yeah." She nods.
(3:13:59 PM) Blueshift_North: "I can lend you some money if you need help with it.  I have enough that I could live comfortably on interest and I've done some investing on top of that. Plus I have a very successful day job."
(3:15:38 PM) Ikiryo: She shakes her head. "I've got...just...enough to keep going."
(3:16:16 PM) Blueshift_North: "If you don't accept my financial aid I will embzzle it into your bank account through South."
(3:17:45 PM) Ikiryo: She sighs. "...Fine." She doesn't sound happy about it though.
(3:19:10 PM) Blueshift_North: "If it helps think of it as an intrest free loan, or as me investing in possible future assistance."
(3:20:27 PM) Ikiryo: She nods again. "I just...it's embarassing. I've spent so long trying to get everything to work...and now it's all falling down and you need to help. I've failed."
(3:23:51 PM) Blueshift_North: "That's one way to look at it."
(3:24:21 PM) Blueshift_North: "Another is that you found backup and are re-orienting on a better plan."
(3:24:33 PM) Ikiryo: "...I don't think that works."
(3:26:32 PM) Blueshift_North: ". . . maybe not.  Look.  I don't have all the answers."
(3:26:45 PM) Ikiryo: "That's more than I have." She nods
(3:29:10 PM) Blueshift_North: "Want to watch the movie and get real drunk?"
(3:30:18 PM) Ikiryo: "Please."